History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 16

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742

USA > Nebraska > Richardson County > History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the same year Jesse and Isaac Crook and others removed their fam- ilies from Archer to Falls City, giving it quite a little boom, and resulted in calling the county commissioners together and they were asked to arrange for the holding of an election for the purpose of again locating the county seat. This was done and the election was held, resulting in a plurality of six votes in favor of Falls City. In the contest as aspirants for county seat honors, were Falls City, Rulo, Salem, Geneva and St. Stephens. This elec- tion took place in the summer of 1860. At that time Geneva, which was located in the exact geographical center of the county, was a town of con- siderable importance, having several business houses and quite a number of residences, but after the county seat question was settled the town went into rapid decline, and all that remains of it are two tall trees and traces of cel- lars, over which the houses stood.

During the years that preceded the final location of the county seat at Falls City, much bitterness between the citizens of the various competing points was engendered, and many was the rough and tumble firstcuffs that took place, but nothing of a serious nature happened until on the day of the election, when Doctor Davis, of Rulo, and a man by the name of Thomas J. Meek, of Falls City, were killed in the old frame hotel, known as the City Hotel, and kept at that time by Isaac Minnick. The hotel building was located on the corner lot on Stone street, now occupied by the three-story brick building owned by the Richardson County Bank, Holland & Slocum and Falls City Lodge No. 9 of the Masonic fraternity. The City Hotel was built by Jesse Crook, who with his wife operated it for a time as a hotel and the same was later in charge of Isaac Minnick.

TRAGEDY DESCRIBED.

The building faced the west on Stone street with a side entrance on the north side. It was a story-and-a-half building, the stairway leading to the upper story going directly up from the north entrance. It was in the room at the head of those stairs that Doctor Davis was killed by Meek, and it was on the stairs that Meek was killed by Doctor Dunn, of Salem, under

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RICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the following circumstances : So great was the anxiety of Rulo, and of Salen, which had joined hands to defeat the location of the county seat of Falls City, that Doctor Davis had been sent to Falls City from Rulo and Doc- tor Dunn from Salem, to watch the polls and see that no illegal votes were polled. Mr. Meek had been selected by the people of Falls City for the same purpose. During the day an altercation ensued between the men, in which Mr. Meek had been worsted and was forced to retire to repair dam- ages. He went across the street to the business house of J. Burbank, where he loaded two revolvers and prepared to return to the hotel. In the mean- time. Davis, who had become hurt in the melee, had laid down on a bed, in the room at the head of the stairs mentioned above. When Meek returned he went to the head of the stairs and began firing at Doctor Davis, who was lying on the bed. In the meantime Doctor Dunn came to the foot of the stairs and perceiving what was going on, drew his gun and began firing at Meek, one ball piercing his heart and he fell dead. Doctor Davis lived for a few days after being shot. Having killed Meek, Doctor Dunn went out and mounted his horse and escaped to Salem. As he went, however, he was fired at by the editor of the Broad Axe, a Mr. Jamieson, who had a shotgun in his hand, and by another person who had a rifle, but neither of which hit him. He was never arrested, although he passed through Falls City a few days afterwards, with a wagon-load of ladies, bound for Rulo. He was counted a brave, mad man-dangerous with a gun, and the people "wanted no truck with him." Such was the baptism of blood that gave to our city the county seat and started it on its course of advancement.

CHAPTER VII.

ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICERS.

The records disclose that the first officers of Richardson county could not have been rightly accused of having been attracted to public service for any reason on account of the emoluments attached thereto, as the first officers were appointive, and therefore temporary, and carried with them but very little, if anything, in the way of salary. Yet, as the years went by, there arose the keenest rivalry between candidates, a condition that exists to this day.

But, as a review of the lists of those elected will show-some of the very ablest men of the county have from time to time served its people in public capacity, rendering most efficient service and the history of county government in Richardson county has been singularly free on the whole from scandal of any kind by those entrusted with public duty.

The first definite record in the court house shows that the county began its official career with the issuance of commissions by Acting Governor Cum- ing at Omaha on January 1. 1855.

COUNTY CLERK.

.At that time ( January 1, 1855). Neal J. Sharp became the first county clerk, which office was combined in this county with that of register of deeds, by appointment. The salary in this instance was provided for by fees and for the first year: so little was done, it could not have amounted to more than one hundred dollars. Sharp held the office until the spring of 1856, when he was succeeded by J. C. Lincoln, of Salem. Lincoln served only until the fall of that same year, when it appears that F. L. Goldshery assumed charge. In the fall of 1857. William H. Mann was elected to the office and held the same until 1861, when George Vandeventer, from near Stella, was the successful candidate at an election held and occupied the office until 1864.

At the election in 1864 James Cameron and William Mann were the candidates. The election was indecisive and James Ward was appointed to act as clerk until the contest might be settled. On March II. 1865, a deci-

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sion was had giving the office to Mann, although the election boards had favored Cameron. Mann served continuously until 1870, when August Falsken was chosen as his successor. Falsken was impeached on July 21. 1871, and Frank Rathen named to succeed him, for the unexpired time.

Falsken, however, came back and was re-elected by the people of the county and served during the term of 1872-73. At the end of this time L. A. Ryan was elected and served a term of two years. He was succeeded as follows : Ruel Nims, two years, W. H. Hay, four years; George Pearson, two years; M. W. Musselman, four years; George Marsh, four years ; E. O. Lewis, four years, ending in 1896.

In the year 1886, owing to result of last state census taken in 1885, the office of county clerk and that of register of deeds, which had always been together, were now separated and in the fall of that year Charles Loree was elected as the first to serve as register of deeds. The office remained in the same room with that of the clerk, however, and the register occupied the north part of the room next to the vault while the clerk and the commis- sioners occupied the south and east portion. Charles Loree served as reg- ister for six years, when the population of the county, as ascertained by the census of 1890, showed a falling off (the population required at that time under the statute for the separate office of register of deeds was 18,003), and. the office of register of deeds was again merged with that of county clerk and Mr. Loree, foreseeing the change that was to come, wisely ran for county clerk that year and was elected. He served as such until January 1, 1898. when he was succeeded by George E. Schneider, who served four years or until 1902 and Loree was retained as deputy county clerk.

Following Schneider, J. C. Tanner was elected and served four years. On January 1, 1906, John H. Hutchings, of Falls City, who had been elected in November, 1905, became county clerk and served four years. He was followed by George W. Morris, who served four years, and he by Ora Marsh, the present incumbent.

FIRST PROBATE JUDGE.

The man having the honor to be first probate judge was Christian Bobst, the father of Samuel Bobst, who is still a resident of Humboldt. The elder Bobst was the leader of a party of the first settlers in this part of the West. He was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and was born in that city on Sep- tember 2, 1802. He and his party came into the country in 1854, in the month of April, and he located his cabin on the south fork of the Nemaha on

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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the northwest quarter of section 25, township I, north of range 12, on April 4th. His house was the first erected in what was later to be a part of Pawnee county ; however, at that time, a part of Richardson county.

Christian Bobst received the appointment of probate judge from the first governor of the Territory of Nebraska, Hon. Francis Burt, in the fall of 1854, with the designation that he was to act for Richardson county, at that time one of the eight original counties of the state. His jurisdiction extended over the county as then bounded: comprising territory now included in the counties of Pawnee, Johnson, Nemaha and Richardson; the south line being the Kansas-Nebraska boundary to a distance of sixty miles west from the Missouri river, and the north line being the Little Nemaha river, in what is now Nemaha county, with the Missouri river as the east line, and on the west by what was then Jones county. This appointment was made through recom- mendations of Col. Neal J. Sharp, of this county, who was a member of the first territorial Legislature. Mr. Bobst and the Frey family, also early set- tlers in that neighborhood, started the town of Cincinnati, long ago dead with all its founders. When Pawnee county came into being, old Cincinnati was included in the newer county.

Mr. Bobst was an able and fearless man and made himself conspicuous in much of the work incident to the formative period in those days of the pioneers. He and his party came into the state from the south, coming up through Kansas from Leavenworth, and entering the state near where they settled and were there when the first settlers entered this. more easterly part · of the county at St. Stephens. For many years all of the residents of the county got their mail at the home of Judge Bobst.

FIRST COUNTY JUDGES.

A little later, however, when the size of the county was materially reduced in area, J. O. Miller, of Archer, and the father of Mrs. William M. Maddox, now a resident of Falls City, was appointed probate judge and is generally recognized as having the best claims for having been the first judge of Rich- ardson county ; however, the officer was at that time from (1855 to 1875), known as probate judge. The duties of this office under the early terri- torial laws were vastly different than now, covering, as they did, a much larger field of importance in many ways. Many of the duties of this office have since been distributed to other offices. J. O. Miller held the office until 1856.

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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

An act was passed and the same approved by the Territorial Legislature on February 21, 1855, establishing the office of register of deeds, or recorder of deeds, as sometimes known, the purpose of which was an office where deeds conveying real estate are officially made a matter of record for publication. The office was at first established in the eight counties first to be organized in the territory and under the law was called the register's office. The office was established as a fee office, viz., the incumbent depending upon the fees earned for his salary, and it has so remained. The first persons to hold the office were appointed

Neil J. Sharp was the first to serve in this important office and held it by appointment from the governor of the territory, Mr. Cumming. He served from 1855 until 1861, when he was succeeded by William H. Mann.

The first deed to appear in the records of the office appears in book A at page No. I and was as follows :

Francis N. Purket to

Ambrose Shelley. Deed.

For and in consideration of the sum of Two Hundred Dollars paid in hand, I hereby sell and convey, quit-claim, unto Ambrose Shelley all my right, title and interest to certain of the public lands upon which I now reside situate upon the Muddy Creek, Richardson County, Territory of Nebraska and bounded north by the claim sold by John Purket to Joseph Minter-being one mile east and west and one mile north and south. the creek running through the claim. The timber on the northwest corner. To have and to hold the same with all the improvements thereon.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, the 11th day of Nov- ember, 1855.

FRANCIS M. PURKET.

Territory of Nebraska,

County of Richardson, ss. :

I hereby certify that on the 12th day of April, 1855, personally appeared before me Francis M. Purket known to me to be the identical person whose name appears on the foregoing deed as grantor and acknowledged the same to be her voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein set forth.

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RICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed private seal. No public seal having yet been provided at Archer, day and date above written.

N. J. SHARP, Register of Deeds.

The record does not show any other to hold the office as register of deeds until the election of Charles Loree in the fall of 1885. The office in the meantime having been administered in conjunction with that of county clerk.

The national census was taken in 1900 and it was ascertained that the county had gained sufficient population for the office (18,003) and in 1902 William H. Rieger was elected register of deeds for a term of four years. He was followed by L. C. Edwards, of Humboldt, who was elected in Novem- ber, 1905, and served from January 4, 1906, until January 7, 1915-nine years. He was succeeded by Norman B. Judd, of Falls City, the present incumbent, who was elected for a term of four years.

In the register of deeds office as it is conducted in Richardson county and throughout the state, for that matter, is kept a record of all real estate land conveyances. The earliest records to be found there are dated in 1856 and 1857. Deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, mechanics liens, wills and all papers affecting the titles to real estate, are brought to this office and there copies of same are made in large books arranged especially for that purpose. In the early days all this work was done with pen and ink in what is called "long hand" and the work was quite arduous. Exact copies of such instruments as are offered for record are made and the same properly indexed that they may be easily found by parties desiring to see the same. The first books used were small and with but few pages and the indexing was done in the fore part of same. Later, large books were provided, containing some seven hundred pages and books of equal and larger size for indexes. The method pursued was still to write the copied instrument with pen and ink ; yet, at a later date a system in vogue in older states, was adopted, of having a por- tion of the instruments printed on the pages of the records, leaving the recorder to supply the portion necessary for each individual instrument com- ing into his hands. Looking back from the present time, it is amusing to recall that some of the able members of the legal profession of the county objected to the latter method of using the printed forms, and the officer in charge in those days went so far in answer to the objectors as to make dili- gent inquiries from some twenty-five or thirty counties of the state to learn the custom employed. It was found that the counties over the state were adopting the printed forms very generally, and this seems to have silenced

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those who would have required the recorder to continue the antiquated method of reducing his entire record by the old method of writing the same in long hand. A later method, and one which has proved a great saving in the mat- ter of space used and time saved, besides making a much neater record, was the adoption of the "loose-leaf" system in the office by the writer, while in charge of the office. The deed mortgage and index records were all changed to the loose-leaf system and the same is being adopted in other offices at the court house, although the same first found favor in the office of the clerk of the district court. With a loose-leaf system, a wide-carriage typewriter is used and displaces almost entirely the old long-hand method.

CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT.

For several years after the organization of Richardson county, the duties of clerk of the district court were performed by the county clerk, and it was not until the entry of Nebraska in the sisterhood of states and the adoption of the new Nebraska state Constitution in 1875, that the new office of clerk of the district court was formed and the duties of its incumbent separated finally from that of the county clerk.

The first to hold the office of clerk of the district court in Richardson county was W. S. Stretch, who was appointed in 1875 and held office until 1879. He was succeeded as follows: T. C. Cunningham, from 1879 to 1883 : Charles Loree, 1883 to 1887 -- (Loree this year being elected register of deeds.) Thomas Brannin, 1887 to 1889 (resigned) ; John L. Cleaver, appointed to fill vacancy, or until December 10, when he was succeeded by C. L. Metz, who served out the remainder of Brannin's term until 1891, when he was re-elected for four years, or until January 1, 1896. Charles L. Metz, 1896 to 1900: G. J. Crook, 1900 to 1904; Charles Loree, 1904 to 1917; re-elected 1916; for term of four years.

COUNTY TREASURER.

The county treasurer's office, which has always been considered as one of the most important offices in the county was first entrusted to the hands of Isaac Crook, a brother of Jesse Crook, and one of the very first settlers of the county. Mr. Crook, coming first, had no precedents to guide him and the duties at that time were very similar to a practice yet maintained in some states, where the treasurer is more properly designated as "tax collector." The latter term more fully describes the duties of the first treasurer, as it was required of him that he go about the county and per-

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sonally meet and collect funds due from the taxpayers. This practice was later discontinued.

Mr. Crook was appointed in 1856 and continued in office until about 1860. He was followed by D. A. Tisdell, of Salem, who served until 1865. Others follow in this order : D. R. Holt, 1865 to 1871; P. B. Miller, 1871 to 1875; Fred W. Miller, 1875 to 1877; John W. Holt, 1877 to 1882; J. R. Cain, 1882 to 1886; William A. Greenwald, 1886 to 1890; Jack F. Walsh, 1890 to 1892; George W. Marsh, 1892 to 1896; John H. Morehead, 1896 to 1900; Robert Wyatt, 1900 to 1902; O. E. Zook, 1902 to 1906; Joshua S. Lord, 1906 to 1910; John H. Hutchings, 1910 to 1915; G. W. Morris, 1915 to 1917; Morris now serving second term.

(12)

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Richardson county was organized in 1855. Population from Secretary of State's report : 1855, 299; 1860, 2,385 ; 1870, 9.780 ; 1875, 15,000; 1880, 15,044; 1890, 17,574; 1900, 19,614; 1910, 17,448.

ROSTER OF OFFICIALS.

Year.

Treasurer.

County Clerk.

Clerk of District Court. Sheriff.

1854 1855 1856

1857 Isaac Crook

J. R. Trammel

E. G. McMullen [1]

1858

Isaac Crook

Jas. T. Wright [4]

James T. Wright

No record

1859 Isaac Crook

A. J. Deshazo

No record

1860 Isaac Crook

A. J. Deshazo

No record

1861 Isaac Crook

A. J. Deshazo

No record

1862 F. A. Tisdell

Geo. Van Derventer

George Van Deventer

John C. Welty

1863 F. A. Tisdell

F. A. Tisdell

William H. Mann

W. M. Maddox

1864

F. A. Tisdell

William H. Mann

William H. Mann [7]

W. M. Maddox

1865 1866

David R. Holt

William H. Mann

Jacob M. Siglin [8]

1867

David R. Holt

William H. Mann

William W. Abbey

1868 David R. Holt

William H. Mann

George Faulkner

1869 David R. Holt

William H. Mann

George Faulkner

1870

David R. Holt

James Ward

George Faulkner

1871 1872

P. B. Miller

Aug. J. Falksen L. A. Ryan

George Faulkner

1874 P. B. Miller

L. A. Ryan

T. C. Cunningham

1875 P. B. Miller

L. A. Ryan

T. C. Cunningham

F. W. Miller

Ruel Nims

T. C. Cunningham

1876 1877 F. W. Miller 1878 John W. Holt

Ruel Nims

W. S. Stretch [II]

T. C. Cunningham

W. H. Hay

T. C. Cunningham

George H. Pearson

1879 John W. Holt

W. H, Hay

T. C. Cunningham

George H. Pearson

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Neal J. Sharp

E. G. McMullen

J. Cass Lincoln

E. G. McMullen

F. L. Goldsberry

George Faulkner

1873 P. B. Miller

James Ward [9] August J. Falsken [10] August J. Falsken L. A. Ryan

Aug. J. Falksen

George Faulkner

David R. Holt

Geo. Van Derventer

George Van Deventer John C. Welty

Year. Treasurer.

County Clerk.

W. H. Hay

T. C. Cunningham George H. Pearson

T. C. Cunningham

George H. Pearson

T. C. Cunningham Alex Kerr

1883

J. R. Cain

George H. Pearson

T. C. Cunningham

Alex Kerr

Charles Loree Alex Kerr

1885

J. R. Cain

M. W. Musselman

Charles Loree Alex Kerr

Charles Loree

M. R. Wilson

Thomas Brannin

M. R. Wilson

Jas. H. Ray

1889 William A. Greenwald

George W. Marsh

John L. Cleaver (App.) . Jas. H. Ray

C. L. Metz (App.)

1 890 John F. Walsh

1891 John F. Walsh

1892 George W. Marsh

E. O. Lewis

C. L. Metz

W. P. Fergus

1893 George W. Marslı

E. O. Lewis

C. L. Metz

W. P. Fergus

1894 George W. Marsh

E. O. Lewis

C. L. Metz

W. P. Fergus

1895 George W. Marsh

E. O. Lewis

C. L. Metz

W. P. Fergus

1896 John H. Morehead

Charles Loree

C. L. Metz

J. Rock Williamson

1897 John H. Morehead

Charles Loree

C. L. Metz

J. Rock Williamson

1 808 John H. Morehead

George E. Schneider

C. L. Metz

W. Kim Tinker

1899 John H. Morehead

George E. Schneider

C. L. Metz

W. Kim Tinker

1900 Robert Wyatt

George E. Schneider

G. J. Crook

John Hossack

I90I Robert Wyatt

George E. Schneider

G. J. Crook

John Hossack

1902 O. E. Zook

Jacob Tanner

G. J. Crook

John Hossack

1903 O. E. Zook

Jacob Tanner

G. J. Crook

John Hossack

1904 O. E. Zook

Jacob Tanner

Charles Loree

John Hossack

1905 O. E. Zook

Jacob Tanner

Charles Loree

John Hossack

1906 Toshua S. Lord

John H. Hutchings

Charles Loree

W. T. Fenton

1907 Joshua S. Lord

John H. Hutchings

Charles Loree

W. T. Fenton

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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASK.1.

George W. Marsh

C. L. Metz

J. E. Anderson

George W. Marsh

C. L. Metz

J. E. Anderson

1 886 William A. Greenwald

1 887 William A. Greenwald

1888 William A. Greenwald

M. W. Musselman

Clerk of District Court. Sheriff.

1880 John W. Holt

188I John W. Holt

W. H. Hay

1882 J. R. Cain George H. Pearson

1884

J. R. Cain

M. W. Musselman

Thomas Brannin (re- signed. )

180

1908 Joshua S. Lord

John H. Hutchings

Charles Loree

W. T. Fenton

1909 Joshua S. Lord

John H. Hutchings

Charles Loree

W. T. Fenton

1910 John H. Hutchings

G. W. Morris

Charles Loree

W. T. Fenton

1911 John H. Hutchings

G. W. Morris

Charles Loree

W. T. Fenton

1912 John H. Hutchings

G. W. Morris

Charles Loree

W. T. Fenton

1913 John H. Hutchings

G. W. Morris

Charles Loree

WV. T. Fenton

1914 John H. Hutchings

G. W. Morris

Charles Loree

L. L. Aldrich

1915 G. W. Morris

Ora Marsh

Charles Loree

Dan Ratekin

1916 G. W. Morris

Ora Marsh

Charles Loree

Dan Ratekin

1917 G. W. Morris

Ora Marsh

Charles Loree

Dan Ratekin

(1 ) MeMullin died in the summer of 1857.

( + ) James T. Wright was elected at special county seat election. October 1857, to fill vacancy of Trammel, removed from county.

(5) G. W. Scott served in place of MeIntire during latter part of this year. Record shows on resignation or appointment. ( 6 ) (. W. Troy resigned; John R. Wilkes appointed in March to fill vacancy.

( 7 ) Election to office of county clerk was successfully contested by W. II. Mann against James Cameron.

( S) J. M. Niglin removed from the county ; office of sheriff declared vacant. On July 2. 1867. W. W. Abbey was appointed to fill out term.

( 9 ) W. II. Mann died : James Ward appointed to fill vacaney.

(10) July. 1871. A. J. Falsken was removed. Frank Rother was appointed. In the election following. Falsken was elected, and took his seat in December, 1871.

(11) Stretch resigned in the same year: T. C. Cunningham appointed.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKAA.

County Commissioners.

Year. County Judge.

1854 J. C. Miller 1855 J. C. Miller 1856 J. C. Miller

1857 1858 J. C. Adams J. C. Adams 1859 1860 Chas. F. Walther

Wm. Trammel [3] Arnett Roberts, Joseph Yount

Arnett Roberts, Joseph Yount, Jos. G. Ramsey Arnett Roberts, F. L. Goldsberry, Jos. G. Ramsey

Jacob Shellhorn, Thos. W. McIntire, Chas. S. Cornell

1861 Chas. F. Walther

1862 Chas. F. Walther

1863 Chas. F. Walther

1864 Chas. F. Walther

1865 Chas. F. Walther

1866

Chas. F. Walther

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 16

Author: Edwards, Lewis C Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1742

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742