USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 63
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 63
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
The members who have served as Oracle have been: Christena Neir, May Phillips, Clara De Maranville, Etta Franklin, Helen Chidester, Edna W. Foss, Ellie M. Johnson, Eva Gingrich, Emma Fye, Hannah O'Brien.
The members who have served as Recorder have been : Ida C. Huffman, Helen M. Chidester, Elva Ankerman, Edith M. Howard, Edna W. Foss.
The present officers: Oracle, Hannah O'Brien; Vice Oracle, Mattie Mere- dith ; Chancellor, Lonise Wiegand; Assistant Marshal, Edith Johnson ; Recorder, Edna W. Foss; I. Sentinel, Caroline Aldrup; Receiver, Ida C. Huffman; O. Sentinel, Mary Miller; Marshal, Marjorie O'Brien; Managers, Myra Kerr, Ona Barton, Emma Eckerson ; Physician, Rachel M. Cooper ; Musician, Sadie O'Brien. Now have 119 members.
I was a charter member and have never been out of office, having filled every chair except Sentinels and Physician. Was Oracle seven years, and the present year will complete my tenth year as Recorder. Hannah O 'Brien has filled the Oracle's chair nine years and Edith M. Howard was Recorder seven years before me. EDNA W. Foss.
ORDER AMERICAN LEGION, AURORA.
The Order American Legion, Aurora, was organized in September, 1919. Its first meeting place was Union Hall, Aurora, Nebr. The members who have served as Adjutant are A. M. Hare and George Funk. List of members who have served as Commander are Carl Swanson, John J. Reinhardt, P. M. Cozier, Harlan Peard. The present officers are Harlan Peard, Commander, George F. Funk, Adjutant. Now have 175 members. Present quarters in Grosvenor Building on east side of square. Meetings first and third Thursday evenings of each month. Open to ex-service men at all times. Post name : Lester S. Harter Post, No. 42. Named after aviator killed in France who was former resident of this community. J. J. REINHARDT.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
Aurora has in recent years followed up the enviable reputations achieved by her faithful churches, her splendid schools, extensive pavement and general physical improvements by crowning this with a record on Y. M. C. A. work for her boys and young men. The movement gained an impetus almost twelve years ago and comfortable quarters were fixed up in the old Business College location. Secretary Morley came from Payette, Idaho, and efficiently launched this work. James B. Harvey of Aurora Electric Company and Prof. A. E. Fisher, president of the Y. M. C. A. Board did service that is almost incapable of recognition. Paul Busenbark was secretary for abont three years, C. G. Beek served awhile and L. D. Jones about two years. A series of Sunday after- noon men's meetings were launched for some years that gave Aurora an en-
546
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
viable advertising throughout the state. Governor, Supreme Court judges, senators, officials and public men in all professions journeyed to Aurora and dis- cussed important practical subjects at these meetings. J. W. Elo, the present secretary, came in 1918. The Y. M. C. A. has a splendid three story brick building.
Another achievement of note for Aurora wasn't so much in securing a Rotary Club, a little more than a year ago, as then being the smallest city in the world to have a Rotary Club. But that is Aurora spirit.
CHAPTER XI.
THE PRESS AND PROFESSIONS
HAMILTON COUNTY'S EARLY NEWSPAPER MEN-HAMILTONIAN-HAMILTON COUNTY NEWS-PAPERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY-THE EARLY BAR-EARLY ATTORNEYS -LATER ATTORNEYS-EARLY COURT-HAMILTON COUNTY MEDICAL CIRCLES.
HAMILTON COUNTY'S EARLY NEWSPAPER MEN
Being a story of how they wrought and sacrificed that the prairie might attract settlers and be made to bloom.
The first newspaper established in Hamilton county was called the Hamil- tonian, by J. M. Sechler, and the initial number was issued at Orville City, the county seat, in the winter of 1872-73. It was a six column folio, and the plant occupied a portion of the court house. II. W. Hickox, a homesteader on the same section as the county seat, was the first compositor, or typo, and Mr. Sech- ler was his own editor, foreman and manager. Both of these men had failing eyesight, and a patron of the paper ventured the remark that it really looked like the paper was also going it blind. The paper was not always issued on the appointed or advertised press-day, but sometimes delayed one, two or three days, which was always "Owing to circumstances over which we have no control," and one of its exchanges sarcastically asserted that instead of a weekly, it should have been called a tri-weekly-out one week and tried to get out the next. It was warmly welcomed by the people, however, not only as a novelty in a new land, but as an indication of advancing civilization and progress, and although the patronage was meagre, everything that the publisher could utilize, ranging from cordwood to buffalo meat, was taken on subscription. Mr. Seehler was possessed of one of those hopeful, honest souls, but his venture was not a gnar- anteed suecess. He later removed the plant to Aurora and continned its publica- tion for some time, until approaching blindness caused him to suspend its publication.
Not long after the Hamiltonian was removed from Orville City, another newspaper entitled the Hamilton County News was founded by G. W. Bailey and E. J. Lewis, being a six column folio, its publication being intended to de- fend Orville in a county seat fight. Bailey and Lewis both possessed newspaper ability and the News was bright and sparkling, and enjoyed a good patronage, Sutton and Harvard merchants contributing a liberal share of the advertising in its columns.
In the summer of 1873 a lone buffalo, which had strayed away from the regular ranging grounds, whose age was computed by about fourteen wrinkles, came in from the west, following the divide between the Beaver and the Blue,
547
548
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
and with lagging speed sped along toward York county. This episode created a great deal of excitement, and many a settler jumped upon his old plow horse and gave chase, but the old buffalo reached the York county line before he succumbed to a bullet. Mr. Hickox, heretofore mentioned as the first compositor, aspired to become the poet "lariat" of the county by his effusion consisting of 18 or 20 verses of eight lines each, and the first four lines of the first stanza appeared as follows :
"The buffalo was up on the Beaver Divide, The hunter was down on the Blue; He said to his wife as he took down his gun, ' I'll go up and jerk down a few.'"
All who joined the chase after this royal game surely enjoyed the poetic attention which was handed to them, and those who didn't join in the stampede were delighted because they were not in it.
After the first election on the county seat removal in 1873 the News was moved to Hamilton by Mr. Bailey, Mr. Lewis having retired, and its publication continued until the fall of 1875, when it was suspended. In March, 1876, it was resurrected by C. P. Whitesides and published by him for 18 months, when Mr. Bailey returned and joined its publication for about one year, when Mr. White- sides retired. The News was moved to Aurora upon the advent of the railroad, and in 1883 Mr. Whitesides again secured control. In 1885 it passed into the hands of W. P. Hellings and Jeff L. Stone, and in 1890 or 1891 just naturally expired.
It has always been a question whether the News was the second paper to be published, or the Aurora Republican, but they were both issued at about the same time. The Republican was brought into existence to "Fill a long felt want," and it still survives, a credit alike to its founders and present publish- ers. D. T. Sherman and F. M. Ellsworth originated the Republican, Mr. Ells- worth being connected with the paper but a short time, and Mr. Sherman as- sumed the entire charge until some time in 1876, when L. W. Hastings joined with Mr. Sherman in its publication. Some time in the year 1878 Sherman retired and Ilastings became the sole proprietor, and so remained until the plant was purchased by J. G. Alden and J. E. Schoonover some time in 1896 or thereabouts.
In 1876 the Aurora Telegraph entered the field, J. W. Sheppard, editor and proprietor, who continued its publication for two or three years, when it became non est. Mr. Sheppard was a versatile writer, and for that early day in news- paper eireles in Hamilton county was considered an able editor, and the rivalry between the Republican and Telegraph for the patronage of the county was keen.
Another paper, the name of which has escaped us, was established in Aurora some time in 1877 or 1878. by Agee & Callegan. Nearly all the people of the county will remember Mr. Agee, attorney-at-law, who lived here so many years ago, but Mr. Callegan, who operated the mechanical part of the paper. we give a brief mention. He was a small-sized Irishman, young, keen, and a printer whom everyone was pleased to meet, but his paper had but a brief existence, and with
549
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
its demise Callegan disappeared, and his name and person are now only a memory.
Other papers have come and gone-the Hampton Herald, by H. L. Hellen, in 1884, was published for some time, when he died and it was continued by his widow and her sister, who made a bright paper during the rest of its existence. The Stockham Reporter, by T. B. Johnson and F. P. Corrick, sprang into life in 1887 upon the advent of the Elkhorn railroad and the founding of the village of Stockham, but its career was soon ended for lack of sufficient patronage.
The Aurora Sun was founded in 1885 by E. W. Hurlbut, and is still shining.
The Hampton Times was being published in 1896 by J. E. Schoonover, but after severing his connection with it its circulation became impaired with a disease resembling arterial schlerosis, or something like that, and it retired from exist- ence in this world of sorrow and trouble.
And thus we list them-J. M. Seehler, H. W. Hickox, G. W. Bailey, E. J. Lewis, C. P. Whitesides, D. T. Sherman, D. P. (Coon) Wilcox, L. W. Hastings, J. W. Sheppard, H. C. Callegan, Lou Armel, W. M. (Billy) Ellsworth, C. B. Cass, Dan L. Machamer-the three latter, who learned their trade with C. P. Whitesides, these we remember as the pioneers among the editors, publishers and printers. Many others followed, whom we do not mention because they are still living among us, and are well known to the people. The oldest compositor in the county at the present time is C. P. Whitesides. Next in order, as a printer, is H. E. Metzger, who has been connected with the Sun nearly 32 years. "Billy" Ellsworth is now, and has been for more than twenty years, night fore- man on the Daily World-Herald. C. B. Cass is now and has been publishing the Ravenna News about a quarter of a century. Dan Machamer is now a banker at Belleville, Kansas. Coon Wilcox is in the furniture and hardware business in the western part of the state. All of these could a tale unfold of the early years in the printing offices of Hamilton county, and in the opinion of the writer 'twould be mighty interesting, indeed.
Of those who have passed into the great silence there remains a pleasant memory. They were pioneers, who endeavored to keep the torch of civilization burning brightly, and while theirs was mostly a struggle for existence they builded better than they knew. Theirs was a work of sacrifice rather than reward, and those who enjoy this blooming wilderness, brought into subjection according to the eternal plan, through the labors and sacrifices of the pioneers, ably as- sisted by the old-time editors and publishers, should liberally accord them their full measure of appreciation for what they did "For the future in the distance and the good that they could do."
In the spring of 1873 J. M. Sechler began the publication of a newspaper called the Hamiltonian, at Orville. The paper was non-political, being devoted to "booming" the new county. It was published in the county clerk's office in the court-honse, the building later occupied by Mrs. Rudd as a residence. The paper was issued for about three months and was then moved to Sutton, Clay County.
The second paper started in the county was the Aurora Republican, owned by F. M. Ellsworth and Thomas Darnall, but edited by Mr. Fox. Soon after D. T. Sherman bought Mr. Darnall's interest and took personal charge of the paper. In 1874 Mr. L. W. Hastings became editor and proprietor, bought the
650
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
interest of F. M. Ellsworth, taking personal charge of the paper in 1876, and in 1878 buying the entire plant. In 1889 he erected a fine two-story and basement brick building on the south side of the square, the first floor and basement being occupied as stores and offices, and the second floor being devoted to editorial and publishing rooms. This office was well equipped with steam power and heat- ing apparatus, and all the machinery, presses and appliances of a first-class newspaper and job-printing office.
Thomas Darnall became a leading lawyer in Lincoln and for many years was one of the chief legal advisors of the Anti-Saloon League and one of the leaders of the prohibition movement in Nebraska.
The Hamilton County News was established in July, 1873, by George W Bailey and E. J. Lewis at Orville. They were succeeded by Bailey & Hickox, who moved the plant to Hamilton in the spring of 1874, where it was edited by Mr. Bailey until the fall of 1875, when it was suspended. In March, 1876, Mr. C. P. Whitesides revived it, conducting it till August, 1877, when Mr. Bailey again became interested in the enterprise, and he and Mr. Whitesides conducted it until August, 1878. Mr. Bailey then became the sole owner and moved the office to Aurora in the winter of 1878-79, where he continued its publication till August, 1884, when he sold it to W. R. Rateliff, under whose management it remained until August, 1885, at which date William P. Hellings and Jeff Stone became its proprietors.
The politics of the paper was anti-Republican, supporting the various com- binations of the Greenback, anti-Monopoly and Democratie parties, in their ef- forts to defeat the Republican party. Upon its change of ownership in 1885, it underwent a radical change in politics, Mr. Hellings becoming the editor and converting it into a straight out red hot Republican journal. During the short period in which it remained under this management it was one of the best county papers ever published west of the Missouri River, being of a high literary char- acter and pure in tone and expression. In June, 1886, Mr. Hellings became the sole owner, and continued as such until August, 1886, when he sold the outfit to W. T. Hastings, who, published it for about a year and then sold to L. W. Hastings, when it became merged in the Republican.
While Mr. Bailey was conducting the organ for Orville in the county seat contest he boarded with William Glover, who kept the hotel and was himself a great joker. One Saturday evening Bailey said : "Well, get your pencil and let's settle up. I like to keep track of my business whether I ever get any money to pay or not. I owe you for a week's board for which you charge three dollars. I have been absent for nine meals this week, for which you ask fifty cents each. Just charge me three dollars for board and give me credit for four dollars and fifty cents for meals skipped. You owe me a dollar and a half, but needn't mind paying cash. Just let it go on next week's board."
The next venture on the attractive but uncertain sea, was in 1877, by J. W. Shepherd, who published the Aurora Telegraph, a Republican paper. for about a year, and was sueceeded by Shepherd & Fritz in 1878. A few months later the outfit was sold to parties in Harvard, Clay County. The Aurora Weekly Journal, another Republican paper, edited by Agee & Callegan, at about the same time as the Telegraph. or probably a little earlier, had an ephemeral existence, five or six months, and suffered the fate of the Hamiltonian and Telegraph.
551
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
The Aurora Republican, which has been heretofore mentioned, established in 1873, and running up until about 1890 under management of L. W. Hastings, continued through the nineties under the editorship of L. W. Hastings, with L. E. Holmes as local editor. About 1899, Joseph G. Alden became proprietor and D. A. Seovill, editor. Alden ran it alone for a period. About 1907 Frederick HI. Abbott was editor and James E. Schoonover, business manager. Then a com- pany with Clark E. Perkins as president (and editor), C. A. Carlson, vice presi- dent, and Jas. Schoonover, secretary, took over the paper. Perkins left in 1919 and C. C. Dobbs became editor.
The Aurora Sun, "which shines for all," has been running since long before the nineties also. II. E. Metzger and E. W. Hurlbut conducted it through the period. Dan Machamer conducted it for a period. Metzger and Jas. P. Rawson had it awhile and ran it up through the 1910 decade. (. M. Grosvenor took it over a few years ago and with the assistance of H. E. Metzger conducts the paper now.
Among the men who have contributed most largely to the advancement of early Hamilton County journalism and who, through that medium, excited great influenee in moulding public opinion in the county, George W. Bailey, L. W. Hastings, William P. Hellings and E. W. Hurlbut occupy a front rank. Mr. Bailey engaged in farming in Hitchcock County, this state, for a number of years; Mr. Hellings oeeupied the position of clerk of the district court in this county, while Messrs. Hastings and Hurlbut continued to ply the editorial shears, the former as chief of the Aurora Republican, and the latter of the Aurora Sun.
In the latter part of 1890 George L. Burr and Dan L. Machamer started the Hamilton County Register. Their partnership lasted but three months, the paper being purchased by his partner, who has owned and edited it ever since. It soon became a populist paper and so continued until 1901, when it resumed its original poliey of strict independence (not neutrality) in polities. For a brief time when the editor was congressional secretary it was conducted by W. S. Day, but the owner did considerable writing for it during the whole of that period. It has steadily grown, always having strong and able competition. In 1900 it was largely re-equipped. In 1904 it added a linotype. For thirteen years it published the Royal Highlander in addition to its own work. In 1912 it moved into its own brick building and has since added another linotype, folder, and is now doing as much outside as local work. In September, 1919, the plant, business and goodwill was transferred by life lease to A. L. Burr, he and other sons having for some years taken a leading part in the business. When they engaged in other callings he remained and is now in charge, George L. Burr, the father, still doing editorial and news writing.
The Western Nebraska Land Register was the name of a five-column folio, issued quarterly in 1882-1883, by William P. Hellings. It was devoted to the interests of immigration and advertising the county, and had a free circulation of 5,000 copies.
Giltner has a paper called the Gazette which is a live-wire journal.
The Hampton Herald was started in the town of Hampton in 1884 by II. L. Hellen. Hle was succeeded at his death in 1885 by Mrs. Hellen and her sister, Miss Smith, who continued its publication for about a year, when they sold it to Whitmore & Addis. After four months' experience in the newspaper business
552
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Mr. Addis conducted it alone for about a year, when it expired. Politics, Republiean.
The Marquette Independent was published at Marquette in 1884-85, by Dr. T. H. Line, but discontinued after a brief existenee. The Stockham Reporter was established at Stockham in August, 1888, by T. P. Corrick. It is Republican in politics. The present editor is J. S. Lounsbury.
The Hampton Independent, published at Ilampton during the fall of 1889, was devoted to the independent candidate for county treasurer.
The Hamilton County Leader, edited at Marquette in 1889 by Mr. Barn- grover, and the Bromfield News, published at Bromfield in 1888-89, had a small local cirenlation, but have departed to seek a more appreciative public.
THE EARLY BAR
Away in the east the sky was glowing. Great streamers were unfolding, carried by unseen hands. Shimmering lights were shooting along huge banners 'of the advance to the chariot that the King of Air and Life was driving in the light. The tears of Noble were wiped away by a tender and un- seen hand. Animate and inanimate Nature looked up in delight. The brant, wild goose and sandhill crane ravished the ear with pæons of melody ; the prairie chicken and quail cooed a soft welcome; the slender and elegant gopher sat upon his tail and sighed for a corn planter; the sturdy mule trumpeted out almost a defiance. Yes, the sun was rising. Hamilton county was being lifted in all her blushes, from the desert to the hill top, and the homeseeker, the strong, reliant man, the trustful woman looked upon her beanty, and she said, let us rest upon her bosom and find peace. The east is fair ; tenderly and reverently will we think of her, but we are young, the camels are moving ; let us go with them and greet our bride and dwell with her.
The light that morning fell upon two men, standing by a serpentine stream, baptised the Blue. There was, at first glance, nothing in common between them, but the second look through and beyond them, perhaps in their shadow you discern a mutual desire, a something that spoke of responsibility and authority. The shorter one was closely and compactly built. In the well-knit frame was strength and suppleness; upon his "Jove-like brow," sheltered by dark festoons of curly hair of that uncertain tint limners give the martyrs; in the soulful eye and mobile mouth was the ineffable stamp of purpose and power. He did not resemble the blind goddess with the scales and two edged sword. He was not quite like her. Neither like the other inspiration of a shelter, upon her bosom a tender child, with a halo of infinite love, with a pleading and beseeching look. Somehow you felt that nature had not adapted him for a sculptor's model for this expression. But there is fitness in all things.
He looked as the first probate judge of Hamilton county should look, firm, decided and with a dare-to-do-right expression, yet withal he showed that his judgments would be tempered with bowels of compassion for the erring. The Hon. Robert Lamont wore the mantle of a judge of a court and record becom- ingly. He had just issued his first marriage license, $1.25 was jingling in his pocket that he knew would be lost to him, for the fees of Cupid are exclusively the property of woman, and as he had been blessed with a helpmate, he was
553
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
uncertain if it would be exchanged for "Godfrey's cordial," a dress for the baby or a subscription for a fashion magazine. He congratulated himself that in a preliminary examination before Esq. Brown on yesterday, a poor trembling culprit had heard the justice say, "You are charged with murder. There is not enough to warrant this court to order you taken out at once and hung by the neck until dead, but you will be conveyed for safe keeping." There would therefore be no appeal for him.
The other man standing by the stream (his appearance gave notice that he had not forded it for some time) was ungainly, and gaunt of stature. He was a lover of the old time. Some of his habiliments had come with a "Salta" of the "Pinta" others with Hudson, his waistcoat was once Mouter Von Viller's, while his hat was the one John Alden won off the pen opener in the Miles Standish layout. He might have been a member of Caesar's truth legion. Napoleon's old guard, or he might have been recently graduated off a Chicago lunch route. It was hard to tell-very hard. He looked castdown, there was a look of sadness on his ingenious face, he occasionally palpitated with much motion. There was in his movements an air of the pregnant desire "to pass out and let the other fellow take the jack pot." He had been a victim of misplaced confi- dence. He had observed the county clerk take a long, deep draught from a kerosene can, a smile hovered o'er his features; that's the drug store snap. I'll register when the clerk goes out. Just then a wild ery rang out, "Take notice, gentlemen, take notice," the clerk ran out, the snap rung down. The mirror caught the expression of unutterable satisfaction; he paused for breath, and to bite it off. The mirror caught a look of horror, a wild dishevelled man, a night- mare, a lost spirit, the mirror burst into a thousand fragments. Aleck Posten had missed the prescription, he had seized the wrong can. Yet not always was he balked, for before another noon he had Gov. Abbott's scalp in his belt. There was mich to compliment in Lawyer Posten and as the nestor of our legal lights, he is now remembered as a pleasant dream. Such was the bench and bar of Hamilton county in 1873; ample then for the due of an orderly administration of justice. When issues were joined Aleck was confronted by pro se or Bob Brown. The court was always open and justice was had without denial or delay.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.