USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 86
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 86
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
shop into the town, where they continued the trade of blacksmithing and repairing. A church edifice was erected in December, 1880, by the Christians, who had hitherto been holding services in a country school house, south of where the town now stands and is a 24x46 frame house, costing about $1.200.
A school house was built in July, 1881, in which was taught the first school in the town by Mrs. Charles Wagner. A second church was established in February, 1882, by the Congregationalists, with thirty members, and Rev. G. A. Taylor, pastor. Services were held in the court room, but active steps were taken for the building of a regular church house at an early date.
Following this, in the immediate order of time, was the erection of a hotel by ('. L. Holbrook, which he ran as a public house until Angust of the same year, when it was rented to P. T. Walton, and used for the same purpose up to February. 1881. at which time it was sold to J. B. and S. S. Tuttle, owners and proprietors.
The next building was a law office, which was built in March, 1880, by S. A. Searle, and following this was the erection of a storeroom by S. A. Allen, in which for a short time he kept a stock of drugs. The business, however, ceased, and the house was soll and was afterwards used as a residence. In March C. N. Green built a house for a saloon ; H. L. Corey and J. 11. Davis built a livery barn and residence, and also a residence by (. J. Martin was built during that month. In November, 1880, E. P. Burnett put up a residence, as also Mrs. D. C. Marsh, the latter being used for a short time for a boarding-house while the courthouse was in process of erection. The contract for the erection of the court house was given to W. D. Young, in February, 1880, and in the following May work was com- meneed on the building, which was completed by the first of November, according to the terms of the contract.
In 1873 the Marshall postoffice was established on Section 6, Township 6, Range 6, at the house of James Crnickshank, with the owner as postmaster. He continued to hold the office there until abont 1878, when Mrs. Sophia Cruickshank was appointed and carried on the office at Marshall for about one year, when the office was changed to the new county seat. The salary at that time was one dollar per month; but as the new town grew this small consideration increased, and the office was paid by an ordinary commission. Mrs. Crniekshank held the office eontin- uously since 1879 to 1890, and prior to that time carried on the office for her brother-in-law. For three months ending December 31, 1889, the sale of stamps amounted to three hundred and twenty-nine dollars, while the money orders issued amounted to $800 per year.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Clay Center was incorporated February 19, 1887, on petition of Peter Cruick- shank and eighty-two others, with Dugald Leitch, N. M. Moulton, C. S. Detweiler. John C. Ward and H. E. Goodall, trustees.
This board organized February 23, with D. Leitch, president; John M. Jones. clerk ; B. F. Pollock, treasurer ; B. F. MeLoney, attorney. In April J. C. Ward, J. W. Irish, B. F. Polloek, J. M. Jones and J. Harrison were chosen trustees : L. F. Fryar, treasurer; Charles Athey, marshal, and B. F. MeLoney, elerk and attorney ; Messrs. Fryar & Meloney held these positions in 1890. In 1888, C. S. Detweiler, Lee Burlingame, J. M. Jones. C. L. Woodard and H. B. Strong, were
to
LIBRARY, CLAY ('ENTER
MAIN STREET, CLAY CENTER
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
chosen trustees and L. Gardner, marshal; in 1889, Jacob Hager, George S. Ward, Lee Burlingame, George E. Birge and H. E. McDowell, trustees; B. F. McLoney, clerk and attorney; L. F. Fryar, treasurer; J. W. Crouse, street commissioner ; L. Gardner, marshal.
In December, 1886, a number of persons from Fairfield visited Clay Center on the first passenger train that entered the town. Conductor Miller and engineer Gordon were in charge of the train. Two hundred and ten persons formed the party.
On March 1, 1887, the depot at Clay Center was opened with S. M. Wallaee, agent. He was still in that position in 1890. The record of business for the year ending March 1, 1888, showed a total business of $37,709.47. The heavy business of that year must be credited to the large amount of corn cribbed here awaiting the completion of the road for shipment, so that the fact of the business of the two last years not showing an increase over that of the first year must be credited to this source.
The telephone line between Clay Center and Fairfield was completed April 30, 1887, the credit being given to L. F. Fryar and Jesse Eller of Clay Center, and C. J. Furer, E. J. Jenkins, J. C. Hedge and J. L. Epperson, of Fairfield.
The official roster of Clay Center's city officials since 1890 have been :
1890-Mayor, Burlingame; eouneilmen, Ward, Hager, George E. Girge, sue- eeeded by O. C. Williams and B. F. MeLoney, clerk, and L. F. Fryar, treasurer. In the spring of 1890 the new officers were: Ward, J. W. Conners, McDowell and Barnett on board, Conners as clerk and Fryar as treasurer. In 1891, Ward, Camp- bell, McDowell and Barnett were the board, with Clerk Cruickshank and J. L. Epperson, treasurer. In 1892, Jenison, Campbell, Wallace and Fryar served on the board; Bavinger was clerk and J. L. Epperson, treasurer. In 1893, the board consisted of Sellig, Perkins, Hager, and Eller; 1894, Barnett, Perkins, John Nau- mann and Jacob H. Eller, George Bavinger as clerk and A. C. Epperson as treas- urer. In 1895, Ward, Perkins, Hedrick, and Eller were the board ; in 1896, Everett, A. B. Perkins, Holcomb and Eller, with Fryar as elerk and L. R. Jones as treas- urer. In 1897, board members were Everett, Davis, Naumann, and Wheeler, and Clerk Diekson. In 1898, B. H. Markwell, J. M. McFadden, Frank Stanton, and L. B. Sluyter were board members; Naumann, clerk, and O. C. Williams, treasurer. In 1899, Johnson, Garrison, Stanton, and Powers served on the board, and Bavinger as clerk. In 1900, the board was composed of Kapser, Sanderson, Taylor, and Cruickshank, who resigned in December and J. K. Gibson was appointed. Klein was city clerk. In 1901, the board was composed of Adams, Barnett, Hursh, and Kapser, with Detweiler as elerk. In 1902, Dunn, Fryar, Johnson, and Perry were the board of trustees, with J. E. Wheeler as clerk. In 1903, W. W. Campbell, Fryar, Johnson and Perry became board members and Wheeler remained as clerk. In 1904, Campbell, Burt, D. B. Gillette and Perry served as the board, O. C. Williams completed his service as eity treasurer, and W. B. Smith took those duties a short time, succeeded in the next year by L. R. Jones and then M. S. Hart. W. W. Campbell, B. W. Campbell, Gillette and W. F. Taylor were the board in 1905. In 1906, W. W. Campbell, Randall, Orr and MeDowell were board members and Taylor became clerk to succeed Wheeler and Hart continued as treasurer. In 1907, the board consisted of Bridenbaugh, Orr, Randall, Wheeler and McDowell, and R. A. Byrkit began a term of two years service as city clerk. Bridenbaugh
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
remained as chairman of the board in 1908, with E. W. Orr, J. L. Perry, J. K. Gibson, and J. E. Wheeler as his associates. In 1909, the members were Jessup, Orr, Perry, Gibson, and Wheeler, with L. B. Stiner, city elerk. In 1910, Jessup, Orr and Wheeler remained on the board, with H. J. Platz and J. O. Latta as new members. In 1911, A. C. Epperson and J. Dudee came on the board, Latta, Orr and Wheeler remained and R. A. Byrkit again became city clerk. In 1912, Ed Westering succeeded Dudee and the remainder of the board continued. No change resulted in 1913 except Henry Richert succeeded Epperson. The same officials remained at the helm in 1914, and in 1915, Hertel succeeded Westering and the rest stayed on the job. In 1916, P. B. J. Adams succeeded Orr and the other four members continued. In 1917, J. H. Richert remained as a member, Adams and R. H. Moore, W. K. Newcomb and J. O. Latta, mayor, became the new members of the administration. Mayor Latta's administration in 1918 found H. A. Swanson and C. Rollins as new board members with Moore and Richert. J. E. Ray was clerk. The 1919 administration remained the same, except C. L. Stewart became clerk. In 1920, H. J. Platz became mayor, and Moore, Swanson, Williamson and Rollins on the board and A. C. Krebs as eity treasurer. J. L. Campbell continued to hold the office of eity treasurer after a decade's faithful serviee.
SCHOOLS
The first annual meeting of school district Number 20 was organized April 4, 1881, C. J. Martin presiding. Charles Lunn was chosen treasurer ; A. J. MePeak, J. F. Thompson, and L. J. Forney building committee. The vote of the district in favor of building twenty-four, and against nine, the amount in question being two hundred and eighty dollars.
John Damon presided in 1882, J. P. Nixon and C. J. Martin in 1883-4. In 1885 H. H. Hendee and wife were engaged to teach the school here for seven dollars per annum. In 1886 William M. Walters was a director. In April, 1887, he and J. M. Jones were chosen trustees for one year, D. Leitch and P. Cruickshank for two years. Jacob Hayward and N. M. Moulton for three years. In April, 1888, the question of issuing bonds for $3,000, the proceeds to be expended on a school building, was ordered to be submitted. This proposition was carried and the two- story frame building ereeted.
The school board, in February, 1890, comprised HI. E. MeDowell, D. Leitch, J. M. Lyons, Jacob Hlager, N. M. Moulton, and Secretary Stein. Minnie Bayly was employed as teacher in September, 1880; C. S. Detweiler in August, 1881: Emma McKee, 1882; William Walters, 1883; H. B. Strong and II. H. Hendee. 1884; B. G. Moulton, Josie L. Noble, L. J. Cowen, 1885.
In 1888, J. K. MeKee, Josie Noble and Jennie Forbes were teachers, while in 1889 the name of N. M. Graham appeared as teacher, and he with Misses Noble and Price presided over the schools in 1890. The number of pupils enrolled was 145, and the total number in the county, 5,877. of whom 3,110 are males and 2,767 females.
George E. Birge, E. P. Burnett, George F. Dickson, Louis F. Fryar, Charles J. Martin, Jonas P. Nixon, O. H. Parsons, George II. Van Duyne, and Justus E. Wheeler are eredited with being the only owners of books in 1881-82 at Clay Center.
In 1890 those who were serving to npbuild the schools of Clay Center were
RESIDENCE - A.C. EPPERSON
RESIDENCE . W.P. HERTEL
HIGH SCHOOL
RESIDENCE - B. CAMPSREL
RESIDENTES W. C. PALE
RESIDENCES AND HIGH SCHOOL OF CLAY CENTER
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Moderator Leitch, Stein, Moulton and MeDowell. In 1891 three year terms were commenced by J. M. Lyons, I. E. McDowell. and H. E. Stein. L. E. Burlingame also served. In 1892, Jacob Hager and B. W. Campbell came on the board. 1894 saw three new members. ('rnickshank. Louden, and Allison. McDowell served a second term from 1894-7. In 1896, Mitchell and Bavinger came onto the board and in 1897 Mrs. Eller and J. L. Campbell started service. In 1899 Hngh B. Louden returned to the board, H. J. Mitchell began another term, L. F. Fryar started in and C. S. Detweiler was another new member. In 1900, George M. Bavinger and B. W. Campbell were serving with Louden, Mitchell, Fryar. In 1901. H. Culvier succeeded Londen. In 1902, two new members came on, Richert and Allen. In 1903, George A. Allen alone held over and four new associates consti- tnted a rather changed board, Macken, A. P. Randall, J. W. Townsend, J. C. Kapser. In 1904 Maeken's place was taken by J. B. Sanderson and in 1905 Townsend's by J. H. Eller. The same five held over in 1906 and in 1907, Allen, Eller and Randall and Kapser were joined by Richert and Johnson. The board, now six in number remained the same in 1908. In 1909, Allen, Eller and Kapser remained with M. Martin, Epperson and Orr as new associates. In 1910, Taylor succeeded Orr. Hansen and R. A. Byrkit came on in 1911. The same board served in 1912, 1913, and 1914, being A. C. Epperson, W. F. Taylor, R. A. Byrkit, H. M. Hanson, E. W. Orr, and Geo. A. Allen. In 1915, Mrs. F. F. Swanson, Mrs. H. H. Johnson, and Lulu Johnson came on and served with Hanson, Allen and Orr. The same board served in 1916. The board in 1921 shows H. M. Hanson still on the job, with a new crew of associates, H. A. Swanson, H. B. Campbell, Cal Rollins, L. A. Brown, and A. S. Kyne.
When the corner-stone for the new court house was laid the following sketch of Clay Center was furnished by George A. Allen :
Clay Center was laid out in the fall of 1878, and the first building erected was a blacksmith and carpenter shop combined built by the Ward Brothers, George S. and John C. Ward, which building was built May, 1879, and was the first building in the section.
The first store was a shoe store, followed in July of the same year, and in the same year some other buildings were erected, and the postoffice, which was one mile east of the village, was moved into the village in July, 1879. Mrs. Sophia Cruick- shank was postmistress, and Clay Center struggled along as a country village. increasing in population and making improvements with her eye peeled for the county seat of the county.
Under the amended statutes an election was ordered for the election of the removal of county seat which was in Sutton, and took place in 1879, the competing points being Sutton, Harvard, and Clay Center, which resulted in no removal, although in this campaign much spirited work was done in the way of making speeches in the different school houses of the county. The historian says that the vote was frightfully large in the county.
Another election was ordered or called for November 2, 1879, with Sutton, Clay Center and Harvard being the competitors, with the result that Clay Center received 1,967 votes and Harvard 1,867, thus giving a majority for Clay C'enter, and stored and honsed in temporary buildings, until the court house was completed in the year 1881, when all records were moved into the new building and officers took np their duties in their respective offices, a happy lot.
Vol. 1-50
780
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
The village continued to grow, business houses were put up, a school house was built, and it seemed so large at that time that Dugald Leiteh said it would be big enough for Clay Center for one hundred years to come. Little did Dugald under- stand how prolific the average Nebraska eitizen was capable of being, but Dugald was mistaken as seen by our fine schoolhouse of today, already outgrown. Churches were built, business prospered, people were happy, and so they lived an flourished in peace and contentment as the capital of the county up to the year 1887.
In February, 1887, Clay Center, having grown greater, was organized as a village by the board of supervisors, and the first board of trustees for the newly organized village were as follows: Duglad Leitch, N. M. Moulton, C. S. Detweiler, John (. Ward, and H. E. Goodall. Of these trustees, only one is living up to the year 1918, namely: H. E. Goodall, now of Ogalala.
('lay C'enter was administered as a village under different boards of trustees until the year 1911, as at this time there was a population of more than one thousand, and therefore a city of the second class, so the old administration gave way, and was supplanted by a city government composed of a mayor, and city councilmen, with city clerk, city treasurer, police judge and city attorney, and at present is divided into two wards, the north and south wards, with two councilmen in each ward.
As I have named the first officers when the village was organized, I will give the officers of Clay Center in the year 1918. Mayor, J. O. Latta, city elerk, J. E. Ray : city treasurer, J. L. Campbell, councilmen for south ward, Henry Richert and R. H. Moore; councilmen for north ward, H. A. Swanson and Cal Rollins.
This brings our beautiful city of Clay Center down from the year 1828 to the year 1918, with her great improvements, such as the largest incubator factory in the world, fine flouring mill, fine and well stocked stores, two banks and numerons other lines of business, as you might say, brought down from a wilderness of prairie in 1878 to 1918, with her fine residences, new court house, fine shade trees and cement walks, all of which makes (lay Center of today a beautiful city of over 1,200 inhabitants.
COMMERCIAL
In Clay Center since the early nineties the leading general stores have been Stein's Cash Store, later Stein Brothers, who moved to Hastings, where they have conducted a leading department store, and which business in Clay Center eventually became part of the J. H. Eller and Company store. In the nineties Eller and Heasley grocery was running, later Mitchell and Heasley, and by 1905 this was Heasley and Eller Brothers, later Eller and Detweiler and eventually J. H. Eller and Company.
The John McFadden store has been running for probably thirty years. Another stock which eventually became part of the J. H. Eller and Company establishment was that of Ingram and Randall, preceded by S. E. Ingram and he by Mitchell and Ingram. Mitchell and Heasley and Mitchell, Hub Racket had been in business preceding this in the nineties.
Ochsner Brothers started to handle a clothing stock some fifteen years ago, this was later handled by H. H. Platz and eventually closed out.
Earlier meat markets were the Central Market of Deines Brothers and Com-
HOME OF GEORGE WARD, CLAY C'ENTER
HIM JOHNSON ELECTRIC LUNY
JOHNSON POWER PLANT, CLAY CENTER
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
pany, Sanderson and Schlick, H. J. Richert, MeC'lemans and Dempsey and George Schlick and Company, all of which are long since out of business.
One of the pioneer commercial establishments of Clay Center, is the drug store of Postmaster F. A. Thompson, running since 1886. The old Robinson drug .store was taken over about fifteen years ago by J. II. Nieman, later running as the Nieman Drug Company.
Stanton and Carney ran a hardware stock in the nineties, later as the Frank Stanton, then about 1891, Nichols and Macken, which stock sustained numerous other changes of ownerships in the past fifty years. The A. Allison hardware and furniture stock was taken over by F. C. H. Adams in amout 1903 and now the Moomaw.
The W. B. Hertel implement stock has been expanded to include the E. A. Bur- ton furniture stock and the successor of the old Stanton hardware stock and is now one of the large commercial establishments of Clay County.
D. C. Hagers has been in the jewelry business in ('lay Center for over a quarter of a century.
The George S. Ward Lumber Company grew out of the Frees and Hedge yards of the early nineties and this company still maintains its business in Clay Center. The Pauley Lumber Company is the successor of the Clay Center Lumber Com- pany and Chicago Lumber Company of two decades ago. The Powers and Det- weiler implement house of the nineties, later conducted by C. S. Detweiler, has passed out.
Other commercial establishments worthy of mention are: Sanderson & Tuttle, restaurant ; G. M. White, West Side livery ; H. W. Cuff, livery ; B. H. Dunn, livery ; R. H. Smith East Side livery: Nebraska Poultry Company ; Mrs Queen Fryar. Miss Welch, millinery; Miss E. A. Prentice, photographer; Adam H. Neuman, blacksmith; Townsend Photo Shop; W. S. Reed, photographer; garages: R. A. Fate, William P. Hertel, Swanson Brothers, Kirshner and Sanderson, Durkel Company.
Clay C'enter's business roster in 1920 was:
L. J. Allen, restaurant Drs. 1. D. and D. O. Gartrell
Dr. J. W. Archerd
D. C. Hager, store
R. A. Byrkit, abstracter
H. M. Hanson, plumbing
City Pumping Station
William P. Hertel, implements
Clay Center State Bank
The M. M. Johnson Company
Clay Center Grain Company
M. Kirchner, auto livery August C. Krebs, attorney
Commercial State Bank
F. M. Larkin, feed store
Commercial Hotel Dr. D. A. Deines, dentist
Dr. J. O. Latta, office
N. O. Deines, meat market
J. M. McFadden, general merchandise
E. J. Dickson, billiard parlor
J. L. Moomaw, hardware store
Clay Center Grain Company
R. H. Moore, restaurant Nebraska Poultry Company
Eller & Co., general merchandise
A. C. Epperson, attorney Farmers' Cooperative Association
Orr Brothers Mill
Ralph Fry, clothing store
H. C. Palmer, attorney
Patriot Office Publishing Co.
L. F. Fryar, abstracter H. Fuhrken, bakery
Nieman Drug Company
J. E. Ray
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
C. L. Rippetean Company, general inerchandise
Sun Printing Office
F. A. Thompson, drug store
Updike Elevator Company G. S. Ward & Co., lumber yard Water Works
J. E. Wheeler, abstracter
CLAY CENTER'S BANKS
The Commercial State Bank at Clay Center was established February 11, 1887. with O. G. Smith, president : J. M. Sewall, vice-president : Horace N. Jones. cashier, and H. E. MeDowell, assistant cashier. The capital paid up was $30.000. In 1895, H. E. McDowell was president. E. D. Davis, vice president, and J. L. Campbell, cashier. The bank then showed a statement of assets and liabilities of $58.433.4. In 1900 it was still under the presidency of H. E. McDowell, with John Murtey, in more recent years a prominent grain main of Alvo, Nebraska, as vice president and J. L. Campbell as cashier. In 1904 it showed a statement balancing $112,036.16. In 1910 its deposits had reached $190,000. The rapid development of the last ten years in Clay County is further evidenced for 1916 and 1921. In 1916 the deposits had grown to $223,000 and in 1921 to $365,000. At the present time H. E. McDowell remains president of the institution, with H. H. Johnson as vice president. H. B. Campbell, for many years assistant cashier, now cashier, and W. B. Smith, assistant cashier.
Clay Center's other bank since 1895 has been the State Bank of Clay Center and Clay Center State Bank. The First National Bank was really the predecessor of this institution. A new organization was effected August 7, 1889, by G. W. Clawson, S. A. Walker, C. F. McGrew, George A. Tenney. Frank Knox, George E. Birge, L. D. Fowler, W. J. Gardiner, W. L. Wilson, and William M. Walters, with Clawson as president and W. J. Gardiner as cashier. Gardiner remained as cashier for a good many years, but George A. Tenney became president in a few years after this organization. This bank used a brick building built in 1887 by Jesse F. Eller, then the only brick building in town except the court house.
This bank in 1897. Cashier Gardiner's statement of assets and liabilities bal- anced at $32.639.03. Theo. Miller and M. L. Luebben, of the ill-fated First National of Sutton, were directors at this time in the State Bank of Clay Center. In 1910, G. P. Schwab was president ; A. P. Randall, vice president; F. T. Swan- son, cashier, and H. A. Swanson, assistant cashier. The deposits were then $109,000. The deposits in 1912 had grown to $128,000, and in 1916 to $160,000. In 1921 this bank is officered by F. T. Swanson, president : F. A. Thompson, vice president, and H. A. Swanson, cashier, with deposits of $275,000.
BIG SUCCESSES IN LITTLE PLACES (Chesla C. Sherlock in Leslie's)
Today the place of opportunity is the small town. The business which may be done there is limited only by the ability of the man and the drawing power of the English language.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, CLAY CENTER
GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, CLAY CENTER
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Out in Iowa there was once a country boy who loved to grow things. He would rather work his garden than eat, and you know how boys like to eat. His father encouraged him in this inclination and he was soon growing such bountiful crops, such wonderful flowers, that his neighbors asked him to save them some sced.
So lie commenced to sell seed. First, a package here and there among his neighbors, until the idea came to him, "Why not go into the seed business?" There were people everywhere who were looking for honest seed and an honest man from whom to buy them.
Henry Field, that was his name, went into the seed business in his home town. Last year he did a business of $1,199,092.61. His town, Shenandoah, has a popula- tion of 5,000 people. It is only a matter of twelve or fifteen years since Henry Field was investing $500 in the business and making his start. Of course, the bulk of Field's business is conducted by mail, but that is no obstacle in the way of the small town.
In Thief River Falls, Minn., there is a country merchant who saved his busi- ness by using the mail order idea. His town has a population of 3,714 people. His business was drawn almost entirely from the surrounding country.
Last year he did a business from his town of 3,200 people in excess of $1,000,000!
There is a town in Indiana, Avilla, to be exact, which has a population of 600 people. Harvey Moore, a former barber, who is a furniture retailer there, does more than $1,000 a week the year around.
MacPruitt, a furniture dealer, who lives at Clarinda, Iowa, a town boasting a population of 4,400 souls, didn't have a dime eight years ago. He borrowed $200 on his home, bought a' stock of goods for $1,450, and paid $500 down. Then he rented a storeroom calling for $60 per month rent. Thus he started out with less than $200 working capital.
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