USA > Nebraska > Richardson County > History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions > Part 38
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EARLY ORGANIZATION.
The need of a co-operative effort was early felt, growing out of which a call was made for a meeting to unite the various schools in a county or- ganization. This gathering was held in the Methodist church of Falls City on November 10, 1875. The registration for the first session shows the following persons present: Rev. C. S. Marvin, O. J. Tinker, W. D. Bissel and wife, Mrs. Sarah Nims and Mrs. H. Gardner, of Humboldt; George WV. Moore and Thomas F. Brooks, of Unionville; William Wrighton, Pleas- ant Valley : J. D. Harris, Olive Tree, William Metcalf and P. Hall, of Salem ; William R. Cain, St. Stephens, E. Cooper, J. S. Clark and wife, of North Star: H. B. Grable, J. W. Maynard. Mrs. T. H. Collins, Rev. D. F. Roda- baugh, S. A. Fulton. F. M. Spalding. Rev. F. B. Nash and Rev. F. Gilbert of Falls City. This number was increased at the evening session by the presence of Prof. I. D. Simmons and wife, of Salem; J. P. Pool and A. J. Ely, of Pleasant Hill; a Mr. Moore, of Flowerdale, and Mrs. William Wil- son, Mrs. Doctor Shaw. C. R. Banks and F. C. Grable of Falls City.
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RICILARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
With these thirty-three representative Sunday school workers from over the county an organization was effected with S. A. Fulton as chairman, and J. W. Maynard as secretary. A constitution was formulated and adopted, calling for an annual gathering of the organization on the second Wednesday of each October, with a full corps of officers, made up of a president and a vice-president from each precinct in the county; a recording and a corre- sponding secretary, a treasurer, and an executive committee of five members. Provisions were made that this organization be affiliated, as an auxiliary, with the State Sunday School Association.
It is unfortunate from the viewpoint of history that the early records of the Richardson County Sunday School Association have been lost, and very little of a definite character has been retained until within the past ten years.
The absence of a definite program for work on the part of the state organization as a working inspiration to the county organization did not bring out the best possible efforts in this county until within recent years. Much credit is due, however, to a few, untiring, faithful workers who kept the fire alive through these trying years, until the state force mapped out a co-operative course of work, which put a new purpose and energy into the county organization. The vision and consecration of such persons as H. E. Boyd and J. O. Shroyer, of Humboldt; Samuel Lichty and Mrs. J. J. Cully, of Falls City, and Mrs. J. A. Tyner, of Salem, did much to tide over the critical periods in the association's life.
THE REORGANIZATION.
At the October annual gathering held in the Stella Baptist church, in 1911, the crisis of the county organization seemed at hand. President J. O. Shroyer was leaving the state and no one seemed ready to take his place. As a final solution of the situation Rev. R. Cooper Baily, then pastor of the Falls City Presbyterian church, now gone to his reward, consented to accept the presidency and Dr. E. R. Mathers, of Falls City, was chosen as secretary- treasurer.
The spirit of that gathering seemed to breathe new life into the or- ganization. Early in November an executive council was called to meet in the Falls City library building. The county was divided into five districts and arrangements were made for a meeting in each for the purpose of perfect- ing a district organization. . As a result of this constructive work, the as-
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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
sociation came to the 1912 convention in Verdon with a better showing along all lines. This gathering was held in the Verdon Congregational church and was attended by about two hundred delegates. A spirit of progress and purpose was evident. Because of Reverend Bailey's intended removal from the state, the association again found itself without a president and Rev. S. deFreese, of Verdon, was chosen to fill the vacancy, while Dr. E. R. Mathers was re-elected as secretary-treasurer. The year's work con- sisted, largely, in visiting the various schools of the county and familiariz- ing them with the possibilities and helpfulness of the organization. As yet, however, no definite plan was placed before the individual schools for a co-operative effort along Sunday school lines.
October, 1913, found the yearly meeting in session in the Congre- gational church of Salem. with an aggregated attendance of over four hun- dred in the three sessions. Doctor Mathers was selected as the new presi- dent and Dr. C. N. Allison, of Falls City, as secretary-treasurer.
THE NEW PROGRAM.
It was at this gathering where a new and lasting impetus was given to the county work upon the announcement of the state secretary, Margaret Ellen Brown, that a four years' program of definite work was being mapped out for all the schools in the state. This program contemplated an effort on the part of all the schools in Nebraska, to reach a certain standard of efficiency in four years. The schools were asked to make gains of one-fourth for each of the four years on the following standard :
An organized cradle roll; an organized, recognized teen-age class; an organized, recognized adult class; at least two classes using grade instruc- tion; a home department, organized; an organized teacher training class; a missionary superintendent or a missionary committee ; temperance super- intendent, or a temperance committee, and at least one won for Christ and for the church each year. Such a plan was to be used in all Sunday schools. To those best acquainted with conditions in the county the successful termi- nation of such a program seemed next to impossible, so indifferent were the schools to the idea of systematic organization.
On November 28, following the Salem convention, at the invitation of the new president all but one of the county officers, department superin- tendents and district presidents met at his home for a conference on present conditions and to formulate plans for definite work during the year. A new vision appeared to all those attending this conference and a forward
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step in the Richardson County Sunday School Association was apparent.
At the state convention, in June, 1914, recognition was to be given to the counties which might be successful in reaching the first twenty-five per cent. goal, and Richardson was one of eight ready for such recognition. The spirit of this co-operative movement was being felt over the entire county and, when the 1914 convention was held in Falls City, on October 28 and 29, an aggregate of one thousand six hundred persons was present for the five sessions, making the largest county convention ever held in Nebraska up to that date. All departments of the organization had been active and the fifty per cent. goal, scheduled for the June. 1915, state con- vention, had been reached eight months ahead of time-the first county in the state to make the second goal point. A notable feature of this conven- tion was the presence of three-fourths of the ministers of the county, nearly all of the remaining fourth being out of the county at the time or detained by sickness. By a unanimous action an earnest invitation was given for the 1916 state convention to be held in Falls City. This invitation was subsequently accepted at the 1915 state convention held in Broken Bow. Great enthusiasm was shown in the final effort to gain the 1916 conven- tion by the seventeen representatives from the county, who traveled an aggre- gate of ten thousand miles to and from Broken Bow to present the formal invitation of the state. The Booster Club of Falls City delegated Atty. Jean B. Cain as its representative and a special period was granted on one evening's program for the presentation and showing of Falls City views by means of the stereopticon. Richardson county went to this convention with the seventy-five per cent. goal gained one year ahead of schedule.
The 1915 county convention was held in the Humboldt Christian church with an aggregate attendance of over one thousand two hundred. The old officers were re-elected and a spirit of aggressiveness was evident. A strain of sadness marked a part of the convention in the memorial service held in memory of the home department superintendent, Mrs. J. J. Cully, who had passed away during the year. Fitting tribute was given to the splendid work done in her department. Miss Gertrude Lum, superintendent of the sec- ondary department, who was at the time in a hospital, was also remembered in a special way.
Richardson county was becoming recognized over the entire state as the leader in all Sunday school work and many calls were made upon its officers to visit other counties and instruct them in methods of organized efficiency. Charts devised to help systematize and check up goal points as gained, were adopted over the entire state, and many of our plans were eagerly sought and used.
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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
THE STATE CONVENTION AT FALLS CITY.
A "red letter" year was 1916, in the county's Sunday school history, because the one hundred per cent. goal was reached twelve months ahead of schedule, and because it was our privilege to entertain for the first time a state Sunday school convention. Plans had been well worked out in ample time to assure a royal reception and a satisfactory entertainment to visiting delegates during the period of the convention, June 19-21. A fitting tribute was given to Falls City's reception in the "open letter" of the Nebraska Sunday School Record, under the date of August, 1916, in part as follows: "We did have such a great meeting at Falls City; people were so enthusi- astic, everyone was good natured, Sunday school people always are: the local committees did everything so splendidly, that everyone wants Falls City to have the state convention again just as soon as it would be polite to ask for it. * * * Falls City did more than they promised to do in money, in printing, for the pageant and everything. We just do not know how to thank them enough."
Then in the same issue, under the heading. "Falls City Did Not Fail," the following appeared : "We thought the Broken Bow people had reached the height of possibilities of extending a cordial welcome and showing hos- pitality to state convention delegates, but Falls City surpassed everything we have experienced in this line in a Nebraska state convention. They had dozens of automobiles labeled "guest car," and these were at the dis- posal of delegates all the time, apparently. They met all trains, brought all the delegates up to headquarters (not just the officers), took them to their homes, and took them to the station again when the convention was over. It was simply great. Then those boys who carried the grips, suitcases, bags and bundles ; did you ever see a more willing bunch? I never did. The local florists, Simanton and Pence, sent two thousand carnations to headquarters to be given to delegates as they registered. The auditorium and churches were beautifully decorated. Falls City certainly made a repu- tation for Christian hospitality."
Though this was the largest convention of Sunday school workers ever held in Nebraska up to that time, Falls City found no difficulty in providing entertainment for all.
COME-TO-SUNDAY-SCHOOL DAY.
Stella entertained the county convention for this year on October 19-
20. One of the interesting features of this gathering was the presentation
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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
of a beautiful new silk flag, three by five feet, to the Cottier Union school for having made the best record in point of increased attendance on "Come- to-Sunday-School Day," October 8. A united effort was being made over the entire state to secure a record attendance on that date, and the Richard- son County Sunday School Association had offered a flag to the school which. on that day, would have an attendance showing the greatest percentage of increase as compared with its own average attendance for the past year. The schools entered heartily into this effort with the result that Richardson county reported the second largest attendance in the state, the various schools having reported an aggregate of some six thousand five hundred for that day. Again credit was given to the work in this county by an editorial in the Nebraska Sunday School Record which stated that the "Come-to- Sunday-School" campaign in Richardson county was the best example of a well-outlined plan carried into successful execution ever witnessed in the state.
NEW OFFICERS.
At the Stella convention Doctor Mathers asked to be relieved of the duties of president, and Mr. M. E. Ruddy, of Humboldt, was unanimously chosen to head the county work. To his unusual vision and indomitable energy, the later growth of the county association is largely due, and there could have been no one in the county chosen who would have measured up to the standard of leadership outlined and carried into successful execution by Mr. Ruddy except himself. Because of the unusual efficiency of Dr. C. N. Allison, as secretary-treasurer, he was asked to remain in his present position and Mr. J. S. Johnson, of Shubert, was chosen as the vice-presi- dent. Superintendents of the various departments were selected as follow : Elementary, Nellie Cleaver, Falls City ; secondary, Mrs. W. F. Veach, Verdon; adult, Gertrude Lum. Verdon; home, Mrs. J. E. Culbertson, Humboldt ; teacher training, Rev. H. J. Hill, Humboldt ; visitation, Dr. E. R. Mathers, Falls City ; superintendents, Mrs. Luella Ciphers, Stella; missionary, Almeda Hill. Falls City; temperance, Mrs. Ellen G. Lichty, Falls City, and pastors. Rev. E. M. Teal, Shubert.
THE JUBILEE CONVENTION AT OMAHA.
At the Falls City state convention it had been announced that, since Richardson county had reached the one hundred per cent. standard of or- ganized efficiency, the challenge was thrown out for an effort to maintain that
FALLS MILLS BRIDGE.
PUBLIC SCHOOL AT DAWSON.
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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
standard for one year, or until the jubilee convention to be held in Omaha, June, 1917, at which time the four years' campaign over the state was to close. The challenge was accepted by the Richardson county workers and the effort began in earnest. President Ruddy began early to organize the schools in the county not only to hold the standard, but to increase the effici- ency, and to send a large delegation to Omaha by an automobile caravan. The results justified the splendid work he did, for the standard was not only maintained but an average increase of twenty per cent. was shown in all departments. The automobile caravan, composed of some fifty cars and carrying two hundred and fifty people, made a sensation at the convention.
As trophies Richardson county brought back from this convention, credit for having the largest cradle roll and home department in the state, a beau- tiful silk flag for the greatest number of miles traveled by delegates in going to and from the convention, another flag for the largest county dele- gation in the state, and the honor of having one of its workers, Dr. E. R. Mathers, chosen as president of the State Association.
SOME VALIANT SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS.
This history would not be complete without the mention of other names which have had a telling influence in making the organized Sunday school work in Richardson county what it is at this time. To the efficient, faithful work of S. H. Knisely has been largely due the thorough organization of the adult department in the forty schools of the county. J. L. Von Bergen, Oscar Leech, H. O. Layson, E. T. Peck, O. P. Veal, and Edward Daeschner, the district presidents, figured largely in the successful working out of the many plans of the county organization. Their hearty co-operation in all methods and advanced steps never came into question, and what the organi- zation came to be is largely due to the fact that they stood shoulder to shoulder with the county officers and department superintendents in advanc- ing the work. To the untiring efforts of Florence Cleaver, of Falls City, is due the credit Richardson county holds for the largest cradle roll and home department in the state.
Richardson county's methods have been largely copied over the state and hold first place in point of efficiency and support of the state organiza- tion. What her future will be will depend upon the vision of service given to her leaders and the consecration of effort on the part of Sunday school friends to help to make this vision real. .
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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
At the meeting called for the first organization of the Richardson County Sunday School Association on November 10, 1875. the following delegates were appointed a committee to draft the constitution of the organization : Reverend Metcalf, H. B. Grable, William Wrighton, George B. Moore and E. Cooper. The following constitution was brought in by this committee and adopted :
Article 1. Name and Object. .
Section 1. The Society shall be called the "Richardson County Sabbath School Association," and it shall be auxiliary to the Nebraska State Sabbath School Association.
Sec. 2. The object of the society shall be to promote the interest of the Sabbath school cause in the county.
Article 2. Membership.
Any person may become a member of the association by paying into the treasury the annual fee of ten cents.
Article 3. Officers.
Section 1. The officers of this association shall be a president, and for each precinct in the county a vice-president. recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer. and an executive committee of five, of which the president and corresponding secretary. shall be ex-officio members.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the society and have general oversight of the Sabbath school interest of the county.
Sec. 3. The vice-presidents shall have general supervision of the work in their respective precinets and shall make reports of the condition of the Sabbath schools in their fields at the annual meeting.
Sec. 4. The recording secretary shall keep a true record of the proceedings of each meeting of the society and co-operate with the other officers in all Sunday school work.
Sec. 5. The corresponding secretary .shall hold all needful correspondence for the society, collect statistics from the several schools in the county for the state society, keep a list of the Sabbath schools of the county, with the name and address of each superintendent of each school, and make a report at each annual meeting.
Sec. 6. The teeasurer shall receive and hold all moneys for the society subject discretion of the committee, pay out the same on their order, and make a report at each annual meeting.
Sec. 7. This society shall meet annually on the second Wednesday in October, at seven o'clock P. M., and continue in session during Thursday at such place as may be agreed upon by the society at their annual session.
Sec. S. The president may, at any time upon the written petition of three or more vice-presidents, call au extra session of the society to meet at the place designated iu said petition, whenever the interest of the society requires it.
See. 9. The executive committee shall arrange the program for each meeting, and shall constitute the business committee of the association.
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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Sec. 10. The officers of the association shall be elected annually in such manner as the convention may decide, except in the case of the corresponding secretary, who shall be a permanent officer of the society, and shall be chosen whenever a vacancy may occur, or whenever the society shall decide by a special vote to hold such election,
Sec. 11. This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting of the society by a two-thirds vote of the members present.
Respectfully submitted by your committee: ·
W. METCALF, H. B. GRABLE, G. W. MOORE, WM. WRIGHTON, E. COOPER.
The constitution was adopted and the city of Humboldt agreed upon as a place for the holding of the next annual meeting of the society.
CHAPTER XV.
NEWSPAPERS OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.
The first newspaper to make its appearance in Richardson county was published at Rulo and bore swinging at its masthead as a name, The Rulo Western Guide. The country was new and the few pioneers residing here felt that the country was suffering from lack of proper advertising. This state of mind on the part of the public, together with the other business and financial interests of its promoters, led them to establish the paper. Those immediately responsible and who fathered the venture were a com- pany of men associated together as the Rulo Town and Ferry Company. the founders and promoters of Rulo. Abel Downing Kirk and F. M. Bar- rett, the former a lawyer and the latter a practical newspaper man, were in charge as editor and publishers, respectively. At the end of the first year Barrett retired and his place was taken by Charles A. Hergescheimer, also a practical newspaper man, who had from the first been an employee in the shop and who for many years was directly interested in the newspaper business in this county.
The first issue of the Western Guide was dated in 1858 and under the management above referred to it continued to serve the people of Rulo and the county generally until the beginning of the Civil War, when changed conditions brought about by the general depression in the county at that time did not warrant the expense incident to its publication, hence it was suspended for a time.
Toward the close of the war the paper reappeared, but . under a new name; this time as the Nebraska Register. Under this title it continued until 1869, when H. . \. Buell became the owner. He continued the busi- ness but a little while and then sold it to Dr. Samuel Brooks, who after operating it for some time and becoming dissatisfied with business condi- tions as they were at the time at Rulo removed his residence and the busi- ness to Salem, which he thought a more likely place. Here the Register was published for but a short time and then was landed in the newspaper graveyard.
Abel D. Kirk, the first editor of the first newspaper published in Rich-
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ardson county, arrived in the county in 1855 and located at the old county seat, Archer, where he erected the first store building in the village and engaged in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1855 he was nominated and elected, on the Democratic ticket, to represent the people of his district in this county in the second session of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature. which then convened at Omaha. He was the leading candidate of the Southi Platte for the position of speaker of the council, or House of Representa- tives as it is now known, and but for his refusal to make certain pledges he undoubtedly would have been elected. As a member of the various committees he rendered efficient service on behalf of his constituents at home. At the second session of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature, several state banks were established, and he was constituted a special committee on banks, having their organization in charge.
In 1857 Mr. Kirk located at Rulo and served as postmaster of that place for a time. While residing there he was appointed aid-de-camp with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on Gen. John M. Thayer's staff, in the Ne- braska State Militia. He also represented the people of the community be- fure the war department at Washington, whither he was sent in order to make an effort to effect a settlement with the Indians and half-breeds of the east end of the county, during the differences incident to the misunder- standing over the half breed line, wherein there were Indian lands that had been settled on by the whites. In 1862 Mr. Kirk removed to St. Joseplı, Missouri, where for many years he was actively identified with the practice of law. He retired from active business in 1898, when he removed to Long Beach, California, at which point he died on October 6, 1915. He was a man of wide travel and had visited almost every portion of the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the lakes to the gulf. A close observer, he gained a broad knowledge of men and things, and was well informed upon all general questions of importance as well as on matters of local interest.
Born in Bracken county, Kentucky, March 23, 1826, Abel D. Kirk was only two years of age when he accompanied his parents to Mason county in the same state, where he grew to man's estate. He was descended from men of valor and patriotism. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Kirk, a native of Maryland, served with distinguished bravery in the War of 1812, while the great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Grand- father Kirk removed in an early day to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming until his death. Thomas Kirk, Jr., the father of Abel D., was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, and accompanied his parents to the Blue
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