History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 29

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 29

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WILD ANIMALS AND BIRDS OF THE NORTHWEST.

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building of the road commenced, E. L. Bostwick, was made chief carpenter, which position he occupied while the road was being constructed.

On the 22nd day of September, 1870, the first rail was laid, and on the Ioth day of January, 1871, the road was completed to the Nebraska state line. It was the original intention of the projectors of this company to follow the west branch of the Missouri river, via Brownville and Nebraska City, to Omaha, but the inducements of the location were not sufficient, and they decided on the location of what was chartered as the Burlington & Southwestern railroad, and the property franchise of this road in Nebraska, consisting of ten miles ironed and about thirty-five miles graded, were trans- ferred to the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company.

ROAD REACHES FALLS CITY.

Grading was commenced 'in 1871 between the state line and the Rulo "Y," where a junction with the Burlington & Southwestern was made. On the Fourth of July of that year the Atchison & Nebraska was opened to Falls City, or at least to a point just east of the city (about a mile), known as Piersons Point-a point of land jutting out on the bottom, fifty miles from Atchison. On the 6th of December following, the road was completed to Table Rock in Pawnee county, eighty-four miles from Atchison.

Cold weather now set in, and the company deemed it best to suspend operations until the following spring. Work was resumed about the Ist of April, 1872, and on the 15th of that month the line was open to Tecum- seh, the seat of justice in Johnson county. In June, Capt. M. M. Towne accepted the appointment of assistant superintendent and W. W. Rhoads was appointed acting general freight and ticket agent. Early in August the road was completed to Lincoln, Nebraska. On the 27th day of the same month, the first passenger train went through to the Nebraska state capitol, a distance of one hundred and six and one-half miles from Atchison.

The completion of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad opened up a country that was unsurpassed from a farming and stock-raising point of view-a combination of prairie, forest, river and valley. It penetrated a country hitherto inconvenient to market, thus affording farmers and stock raisers an excellent opportunity to market their production. It opened up a business and social intercourse between the business men along and contiguous to the road and the business men of Atchison and the East. Their interests were closely identified and they worked earnestly together

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for the promotion of every branch of commerce and trade. This fertile country, which had so long been fated to blush unseen and waste its sweetness on the desert air, was now brought into direct communication with the rest of civilization. This wedding was formally solemnized when was heard the whistle of the first iron horse which, with its train, came roaring up the valley of the Nemaha, and with this invasion the old West was crowded back farther toward the mountains.

The first great and deplorable accident and the one which caused the death of the bright young superintendent, Major Firth, who had acted as the first superintendent and had personally supervised the construction of the road into this county, occurred at a point between Highland and Doniphan, Kansas, on June 8, 1872, on the road he had built. He was riding on the pilot of one of his engines when a bridge gave way and he was crushed beneath the engine and died within two weeks. He died when engaged in the faithful discharge of his duty to the railroad company. Immediately after his death, Maj. F. O. Wyatt was appointed chief engineer, which position he occupied, performing his duties intelligently and faithfully until the Ist day of December, when he resigned, and Col. Charles C. Smith was given his place. Colonel Smith was a practical railroad man in every sense of the word, and under his efficient management this popular through route from St. Louis and the South and East to the Union Pacific, in a short time became a trunk line and a great channel for rapidly increasing traffic between the North and West and St. Louis. The road was substantially built for those days of the best material, and the rolling stock was all new and of the latest improved pattern for the time. Until that time no accident had befallen any passenger over the line.

The completion of the road to this place came about just in time to be celebrated jointly with the national holiday on the Fourth of July, 1871. It must not, therefore, be presumed that the old-time people of this com- munity did not take advantage of such an occasion to blow off some surplus steam and give vent to their feelings at such a time. It came about in this wise :

Tuesday, the Fourth of July, was perhaps as favorable a day as this season has offered-clear and bright, but not "hot"; a cool wind was blowing all day, and certainly no one could have asked for a better day for outdoor exercises. Notwithstanding, owing to the uncertainty of the appear- ance of the locomotive on that day, without which the majority were in favor of having no celebration, Sheriff Faulkner, of this county, as mar- shal of the day, organized a procession and marched around town and to the

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grounds which had been arranged for the accommodation of the guests. As may be supposed, the procession was not large, but nevertheless interest- ing, as it was headed by the Falls City brass band in their red, white and blue-trimmed wagon. The band did well, and was the subject of many compliments during the day. The orations, readings, etc., by different gentle- men of this city, were all good, and the public dinner was a success, except that a few perhaps failed to get their share in consequence of there being a larger crowd than was expected, and more than there was provision made for. . The most interesting part of the program to almost all, was that con- cerning the excursion party, which commenced at about two o'clock. when. the people started for the' terminus of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, where the excursionists were to stop. At 3:30 o'clock p. m., a whistle was sounded, and shortly a train made its appearance. There were two cars, one coach and one flat car, drawn by engine No. I. As soon as the train stopped the band struck up a lively piece. After which they adjourned to a grove close by.

Hon. Edwin S. Towle delivered the welcoming address, followed by Col. P. T. Abell, the president of the road, who spoke ably on the future prospects of this state and Kansas, the railroad, etc. Judge Isham Reavis being called for, made his appearance and delivered a short and appropriate address. G. W. Glick, later governor of the state of Kansas. was then uproariously called for; he spoke at some length, and closed by inviting S. S. Price, of Rulo, to address the assembly, which he did. closing the cere- monies.

Among the excursionists were Messrs. Abel, Hartford, Quick, Gus Byram, George W. Glick, Nelson Abbott, editor of the Atchison Patriot: H. E. Nickerson, Alderson, C. Rohr, Doctor Challis, George Challis. W. W. Guthrie, David Auld, Adam Bremer, C. H. Phillips, Frank Brier, P. Brown, of Atchison; Judge Price, of Troy, and others.

BRILLIANT BALL CLOSES DAY.

What the fore part of the day lacked in the way of agreeable amuse- ments, certainly the evening and night made up for. At dusk the display of fireworks was commenced and was kept up until a late hour, also about the same time the Odd Fellow's ball opened in the Journal building, which owing to the large attendance, good music, the excellent floor and ample room, was certainly a success. In this connection we may state one remark- able fact-the lady guests were in excess of the gentlemen, which was

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contrary to all precedent in Falls City. Heretofore we had expected to see at least four gentlemen to one lady. The question was where did they come from? Why, there were more people here now than we had had at our last ball ; besides there were people here from all parts of the county and from Kansas. The ball party took supper. at the city hotel. In this. Mr. Collins, of that popular house, had an opportunity to show what he could do in the way of getting up meals for special occasions, and he took advantage of it. The supper was excellent, and reflected much credit upon the house, its proprietor and the landlady, under whose personal supervision the tables were arranged. About forty couples were seated at one time at the tables.

The railroad was now here, a reality, and writing to Mr. W. S. Stretch, the editor of the Vemaha I'alley Journal, of Falls City. F. R. Firth, super- intendent of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, said: "I have issued an order to have a long whistle blown half an hour before trains leave Falls City, so as to give passengers ample time to get to the trains."

In further celebration of the completion of the road, word was re- ceived here on Thursday morning that it was the intention of the managers of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad to give a grand free excursion to Atchison on Friday, the 7th inst. Accordingly on Friday morning, a large number of our citizens went to the end of the track near town, and at about 7:30 o'clock a. m., found themselves gliding smoothly along over a Rich- ardson county railway for the first time. Among the party were some of our most prominent business men, who intended to see for themselves the far-famed city of Atchison, and the beautiful country which the new road opened up. The gentlemanly 'conductor, Mr. J. Wiseman, did all in his power to render the party comfortable, and with his efficient corps of attaches. succeeded admirably. The road was one which would compare favorably with any in the state at that time, being solidly Infilt, well ballasted, and good bridges, etc.

At 8:10 Rulo was announced, where a large party joined them, swelling the number to over five hundred persons. . After the train had fairly started on its gratuitous mission, the excursionists formed themselves into small parties all through the train, where vocal music. jovial conversation, etc., tended to enliven the spirits of the already happy crowd.

.After a pleasant four hours ride through the beautiful valleys of the Nemaha and Missouri, during which they feasted their eyes upon some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, they arrived at the busy city

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of Atchison. Mayor Smith, in a brief speech, welcomed them to the city, and tendered them the hospitalities of the citizens. He closed by introducing Judge Mills, also of. Atchison, who spoke at some length, of the Nemaha Valley and the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, Falls City, etc.

Judge Reavis, of Falls City, being called for, said that he had not in- tended addressing the enlightened citizens of Atchison, and therefore, begged to introduce his young and eloquent friend, Capt. George Van DeVenter. Van DeVenter was in his element. With his wanton aptitude he portrayed, in glowing terms, the rapid advancement of the great West, what it had been and what it is, and closing with a pleasing compliment to the citizens of the Nemaha Valley, Atchison and Falls City. With three rousing cheers for Atchison, Falls City and the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, the party dispersed for dinner.

After dinner quite a number of excursionists procured carriages and visited various points of interest in the city. The excursionists were uni- versally treated with great cordiality by the citizens of Atchison, who were undoubtedly a go-ahead and progressive people. They found the city to be growing rapidly. Business of all kinds was in flourishing condition, and they were agreeably surprised at the metropolitan aspect of the city.

At 3:30 p. m. they started on the return trip, fully convinced that Atchi- son's prospects for becoming the city of the Missouri river was very flatter- ing, and that ere long it would command the immense trade of the entire Missouri Valley.

The ladies were pretty, the gentlemen good natured and the day pleasant, and all tended to make the entire party enjoy themselves hugely, which they undoubtedly did. Doctor Horn, the genial local of the Patriot, said that without saying anything in any way detrimental to Atchison, he was of the opinion that Falls City excelled in handsome ladies, but being a married man he could not accept of many fine opportunities.

Messrs. Dolan & Quigg. the enterprising wholesale grocers and liquor dealers of Atchison, tendered the hospitalities of their large establishment to the party, who were in no way backward in accepting thereof.

The train consisted of seven coaches and two flat cars, drawn by engine No. 12, George Rapp, engineer, and were filled to overflowing.

THANKS THE RAILROAD COMPANY.

A meeting was organized on July 7, 1871, by the Falls City delegation on board the above train on its return trip to that place and the following proceedings were had :

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On motion of Maj. John Loree (father of Charles Loree), Judge Thomas Spragins was called to the chair, and Howard Leland was ap- pointed secretary. The judge on assuming the chair said :

Ladies and gentlemen of Falls City: We have enjoyed one of those days that come to a people but once in a lifetime. A hundred iron roads may be built to and through our growing little city, but the same joyous emotions that have swelled our hearts this day will not come with then. It is like the first baby in a family-the little stranger is such a stranger. But do not let me further occupy the time of the meeting. I understand the object is to express, in some appropriate manner, our appreciation of the kindness of the officers of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company, and to thank them for the many courtesies they have extended to our people on this occasion. What is the further pleasure of the meeting ?

On motion of Charles H. Rickards (the present county assessor of this county), a committee of three was appointed by the chair to draft reso- lutions expressing of the sentiment of the meeting. The chair appointed Maj. John Loree, the Hon. W. M. Maddox and Martin Ryan as said com- mittee.

While the committee was absent in the discharge of its duty, the meet- ing was regaled by our young and promising townsman, George Van De Venter, in one of his most happy and telling speeches. The speech cannot be given here, it would have required a corps of phonographic reporters to catch his glowing words as they dropped in rapid succession from his elo- quent lips, but those who heard him on that day were slow to forget the occasion.

The committee on resolutions through their chairman. Maj. John Loree. made the following report, which was adopted unanimously amid the most intense enthusiasm :

Whereas, Through the kindness of Col. P. T. Abell, the able president. and Major Firth, the gentlemanly and efficient superintendent of the Atchi- son & Nebraska railroad, we have this day enjoyed one of the most delightful pleasure excursions of our lives, and

Whereas, It is our desire to express more publicly our appreciation of this mark of their friendly regard as well as to bear testimony to the ability and energy of these gentlemen and their associates, who in the prosecution and management of the affairs of what in our judgment, is the most significant enterprise in the Northwest, have furnished their fellow citizens indubitable evidence that difficulties, however difficult, may still be mastered, therefore, be it

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Resolved, That the thanks of the whole people of the Valley of the Nemaha are due, and in their name we hereby tender same to the officers and employees of the railroad for the courtesies extended to us today, no less than for the immeasurable benefits conferred upon us in the construc- tion of the iron road in our beautiful valley.

That we hereby pledge our hearty support to the company in the further construction of the road, and we heartily recommend that every citizen in the valley, from Rulo to Lincoln, do all that men may do to further the great enterprise, until the accomplished fact shall be a continuous line of railway in our midst which shall reach from sea to sea.

That we never felt better in our lives, and especially are we glad that we visited Atchison.

That the secretary be directed to furnish a copy of these proceedings to the local press for publication and that this meeting adjourn with three cheers for the people of Atchison 'and the Atchison & Nebraska railway.

Thomas Spragins, president.

Howard Leland, secretary.

RETURN VISIT BY ATCHISON CITIZENS.

On Saturday, July 9, 1871, the myriads of good people of Atchison, through the kindness of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company visited our city on half-fare tickets. They arrived at about half-past twelve, and were transferred to the hotels in buggies, carriages, lumber wagons, and every other description of conveyances that could be engaged for the oc- casion. They remained in town about two hours, or about long enough to supply the inner man with something substantial, and then took their depar- ture for home. Owing to the general "hub-bub" and hurry to get back to their train for fear of being late, it was impossible for the people here to get a list of or make the acquaintance of many of them.

But it was observed that there were about five hundred visitors in the crowd, and an intelligent one, besprinkled with a goodly share of the fair sex, whose beautiful faces, agreeable manners and elegant attire were the subject of much admiration among the Nemaha Valleyites. Our hotel men were unable to get but few of the names registered, though their guests might be numbered by hundreds. The following registered at the City and Union Hotels: City Hotel-F. E. Sheldon, C. E. Peck. A. H. Martin, J. D. Higgins. A. H. Allen, W. S. Thacker, S. Collins, L. E. Gordon, J. Wilson and ladies, C. E. Gaylord, H. Denton, L. Gilbert, Sarah Riddle, D. Dickerson,

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Nancy Riddle, D. C. Hull. W. A. Foley, A. A. Parson, M. Gerber, F M. Parsons, J. F. Pigin, E. Parson, J. P. Smith, D. S. Mckinney, W. F. Onnis, C. M. Abbott, M. Utt, J. Wiseman and lady, H. M. McDaus, J. M. Idol and lady, J. Hehn, J. Reisner, W. McKee, E. Shaw, T. J. Ward and family, H. Barnes, G. Van Camp and lady, B. Miller, W. B. Bull, Judge Mills, H. B. Horn, Miss Ella McFarland. Union Hotel-W. H. Mann, S. W. Bivins, B. Teemey, H. H. Wood, W. Straw, M. A. Albright, J. M. Cro- well, J. Hoke and lady, F. K. Armstrong, Miss Louie Flick. W. S. Good- rich, Shaw Beery and lady. L. C. Hugh, Mollie Moore, P. T. Abell, Miss Abell, L. T. Woolfork, Miss Zull, C. H. Caller, B. W. Forbes, F: M. Pierce, G. L. Moore, J. W. Mussey, B. S. Campbell and family, A. T. Onis, D. C. Jagglers and wife, J. F. Ingles, W. F. Goodrich, C. H. Chass- ney, Z. Smith, S. Gourner, A. J. Brown, G. H. Rapp. J. C. Dudley, W. R. Smith, P. Z. Owens, H. McCormick, H. Smith, F. M. Vanner, F. H. Smith, N. Thomas, J. W. Lincoln, J. Millard. P. T. Abell, Jr.

FIRST TIME TABLE PUT IN EFFECT.

The first time schedule of this road was put into effect during the week of July 13, 1871, between this city and Atchison. It embraced four trains a day-two arrivals and two departures. The accommodation train left Falls City at 7:15 o'clock in the morning and the mail and express at 2:45 o'clock in the afternoon and the accommodation arrived from the South or East at 1:35 o'clock in the afternoon, and the mail and express at 7:30 o'clock, night. Parties desiring to visit Atchison could leave Falls City at 7:15 o'clock a. m., and return home at 7:30 p. m., giving them three hours and ten minutes to spend in Atchison at an expense of $4.

FIRST RAILROAD STATION AGENT.

Charles Loree, the present (1917) clerk of the district court, who had been employed by the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company as car ac- countant in the yards at Atchison, although a resident of Falls City, was appointed as the first station agent at Falls City and rode the first train in to arrive at this point. He had his new office for nearly a month, or until August Ist, in conjunction with that of Dr. H. O. Hanna, who occupied rooms in a building located on the present site of the Samuel Wahl & Company's store at the corner of Fifteenth and Stone streets in block No. 103. In August. 1871. he bought for himself a desk and took up

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quarters with Joseph Burbank in the latter's grain office, near the present site of the Burlington & Missouri depot and there remained until a depot · which, at the time was under construction, was completed. His office was the western headquarters of the construction crew of engineers until the latter moved on further west as the building of the road progressed. No tickets were received or sold until September and the patrons of the road were obliged to make settlement with the conductors of the trains. He served for about a year, or until the coming of the telegraph, when he gave the place to another, as he had had no training in the use of the Morse code and the road at that time had insufficient business to require the presence or expense of more than one man at this point.

The first noticeable effect of the railroad was to cut rates on the shipping of produce. In the years immediately preceding, much of the produce of the farms in this section had either to be hauled to Rulo, Arago or other river points for the steamboats, or was taken to Hamlin or Hiawatha in Kansas, for transportation. Besides the distance that had to be covered the prices were high. The rate from Falls City to Troy Junction, thirty- eight miles, was first fixed at $18 or 9 cents per hundred and to Atchison, a distance of fifty-five miles, $28 or 14 cents per hundred. At this time but one freight boat was still doing business-the "Elkhorn." The river boats had suffered from the first (in 1866), with the advent of the railroad's coming to Kansas and Missouri, and points further south and the further extension north acted at once to put them out of business that would be profitable to them.

PICNIC GROUNDS.

At the second crossing of the Nemaha river coming up from Atchison, and in this county midway between Rulo and Falls City, in point of north- west quarter of southwest quarter of section 22, township No. I, north of range 1,7, about a mile east of the present village of Preston and east of the Nemaha river, was a tract of about ten acres of land owned by the railroad company. In August, 1871, Major Firth had these grounds laid off into one of the finest picnic grounds that could at that time be found in two states. These acres were heavily covered with natural timber and the company had them cleared of brush, weeds and rubbish and sowed to blue grass. A fence was built and a broad platform made at the railroad, an ice house set in the bank of the river, and board tents put up in various places. This soon became one of the most attractive places in the valley and people came by the hundreds from Atchison, Doniphan, Hiawatha and

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all over this county. Many big events took place there and it continued popular until its beauty was destroyed by the floods and storms in later years.

The Atchison & Nebraska railroad was completed to Salem by the 24th of August, 1871, and the regular trains all ran west to that place and connected with the stages for Humboldt, Table Rock, Pawnee City, Beatrice and Tecumseh and all points north and west.

FIRST DEPOT AT FALLS CITY.

The first railroad depot consisted of five rooms, a freight room on the west, twenty-nine by thirty-six feet, a neat little ticket office on the south- east corner, ladies waiting room on the northeast, and gents waiting room on the south center-the entire building being thirty by sixty feet, with a twelve-foot platform all around it, and twelve by one hundred feet on the front or south side. Two or three hundred yards east of the depot was a turntable, and about a mile farther east was a water tank, which was supplied with a wind wheel for pumping water. Burbank & Holt had a grain warehouse just west of the depot, at which place they bought grain. Kein & Maust at once built an elevator a few rods east of the depot. Coal was delivered from Ft. Scott to patrons in Fall City at from thirty to thirty- five cents per bushel, while wood was selling here at three dollars and a half per cord.

The Atchison & Nebraska railroad reached Humboldt the first week in October, 1871, and on Friday, October 6, 1871, the citizens of Humboldt were given an excursion to Atchison, Kansas.

ATCHISON & NEBRASKA CITY RAILROAD.

On May 5, 1867, the charter of the Atchison & Nebraska City Railroad Company was filed in the office of the secretary of the state of Kansas. The original incorporators of this road were Peter T. Able, George W. Glick, Alfred G. Ottis, John M. Price, W. W. Cochrane, Albert H. Horton, Samuel A. Kingman, J. T. Hereford and August Byram, all of whom were citizens of Atchison, Kansas. The charter provided for the construction of a railroad "from some point in the City of Atchison to some point on the north line of the state of Kansas, not farther west than twenty-five miles from the Missouri river, and the length of the proposed railroad will not exceed forty-five miles."

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 29

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