USA > Nebraska > Richardson County > History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions > Part 53
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J. C. Gafford is another of the good boys we met at this place. He
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has charge of the large lumber yard of Easley, Shearer & Stone at this place.
At this place we ran against our old friend, D. W. Sowles, who is one of the best mechanics in the West, and planner of the finest piece of engineering work in the Big Blue Valley. Time has dealt tenderly with him and he is the same frank, open-hearted, good fellow as of yore. "D. W." is a good soul.
James Cooper keeps the Eagle Restaurant and is always ready to serve the hungry with a square meal. He is a useful citizen, though quite lame, and has hosts of friends in Humboldt. He carries the mail to and from the depot.
Doctors Green and Cox are two of the leading physicians and surgeons in the Nemaha valley. They are skillful doctors and excellent citizens, and no meu in Humboldt take a deeper interest in the Humboldt high school. Doctor Green is a graduate of the Chicago Medical college, and Cox is an ex-surgeon in the United States army, where he served during the "un- pleasantness." They have a large practice.
F. M. Williams is superintendent of the county schools. Botany is one of the branches in which a teacher must be proficient before he can get a certificate in Nebraska. Mr. Williams does not conduct examinations clear through the American flora, but passes gentlemen teachers, if they are thoroughly au fait in the structure and use of the mint julip. Lady teachers must have a general knowledge of fruits and flowers, and be per- fect in the uses of tu-lips.
S. W. Beals is senior of the contracting and building firm of Beals & Nins. He has built more than half the houses in town, and his work speaks for itself. He is one of the best and most useful citizens of Hun- boldt.
L. T. Illingworth is one of the excellent farmers and has one of the nicest and best farms on Four Mile creek in all that vicinity.
J. W. Lynch is a young farmer, but an old settler near Humboldt. He is a wide-awake chap and one of the live men of his vicinity.
Josiah Frazier, one of our jockey friends, says he has a six hundred pound short tail pony that can out-run any other pony in Richardson county.
There is a large, first-class flouring-mill on the Nemaha, near Hunt- boldt, but on account of bad weather and muddy roads we did not visit it. It is a water-power mill and is said, by those upon whom we can rely, to be as good as any on the north fork of the Nemaha.
The people of Humboldt are not newspaper crazy like those in some
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small towns we know of. Instead of keeping up, in a half-starved condition. a seven by nine paper of their own, they patronize extensively the Falls City Journal by subscription and job work.
HUMBOLDT HIGH SCHOOL.
The Humboldt high school is in charge of Prof. L. P. Boyd, one of the best and most thorough teachers in Nebraska. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. A number of pupils from other points attend his school on account of the superior facilities offered for acquiring a thorough education. He has two assistants, Mr. O. F. Allen and Miss Helen Sterns, who are both accomplished teachers. We did not get the exact figures, but we learned that there are nearly one hundred pupils in constant attendance. The school house stands on the highest eminence in the town and the people of Humboldt are proud of their handsome building.
On the day we visited the city every business man in Humboldt was engaged in planting trees in the school house square. A large number of shade trees have been set out on the streets this spring and, in a few years, if they are cared for, they will add a thousand per cent. to the beauty of the town.
GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF HUMBOLDT.
The ground on which the town is built rises gradually from the depot with just fall enough to make the drainage perfect and the townsite in many respects is one of the prettiest on the railroad. The buildings are mostly frame and well-painted, and are better than the average buildings of towns of its age. About the whole place there is an air of thrift, enter- prise and intelligence that gives a very favorable impression to all new- comers.
The Long Branch and the Nemaha are well timbered in this vicinity, and it is only a few miles to the coal beds on the south fork, in the vicinity of Cincinnati. The soil is as good as the best in Richardson county, and an abundance of lime and building stone are found in this vicinity.
A number of fine orchards are started in the vicinity of Humboldt. and some are beginning to bear. Mr. W. T. Wilhite, brother of Hon. J. R. Wilhite, now of Falls City, raised over three hundred bushels of apples last year.
Take the town of Humboldt, the surrounding country and the people who inhabit it, and we don't believe there is a better region in the state of Nebraska.
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SCHOOLS OF HUMBOLDT.
We have no hesitancy in putting the school first as one of the insti- tutions in which Humboldt has every reason to take pride. Many of the pioneers who first came into this vicinity had had educational advantages in their Eastern homes and were not slow to establish in the new country a like opportunity for their offspring. In 1867, the year in which Ne- braska was admitted as a state and the same in which Humboldt was made a corporate body, the first school was organized. O. J. Tinker, with the assistance of others, raised a sum of three hundred dollars, by means of which the little stone school house which still stands near the corner of Third and Nemaha streets was erected. It was known as the Grant school and scholars to the number of ten were first in attendance. The little building was a kind of a community center and was also used as a church, town hall, opera house and, also, for the holding of court. It was used more than six years for school purposes and the following served as teachers: Miss Linn, Ed Tinker, Doctor Glover, Albert Therwood, Helen Sterns and Uhri Babcock.
Increasing population necessitated a larger building and one was at once provided. It can now be identified as the present home of the Bohemian societies and is known as the Bohemian hall. Among the teachers there were : Mr. S. P. Boyd, 1872-75 and 1877-79; D. J. Wood and Mr. Pome- roy, Thomas Hitt, J. C. Smutz and Miss McGlashan acted as superin- tendents. A smaller building was soon needed and one was erected to the West. Both of these buildings still remain standing in the town.
In 1885 the present large brick building was completed at a cost of more than fifteen thousand dollars and a few years ago a large addition was built, but the accommodations of the present building are hardly adequate to house the students of that district. The list of superintendents include : C. F. Chamberlain, 1886-89: Leach, 1889-90; George R. Chat- burn, 1890-92; Carleton, 1892-93; J. W. Dinsmore, 1893- 96; Arthur McMurray, 1896-97; George B. Cortelyou. 1897-98; Charles Jones, 1898-1900; George W. Crocker, 1900-02; R. L. Hoff, 1902-1I ; Burdick, 1911 to the present.
BRUUN MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY.
In 1885 Mrs. Lydia A. Bruun, widow of Charles Bruun, wishing to perpetuate the name of her husband among the people with whom he had
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labored in a way that would please, benefit and bless humanity, conceived the idea of establishing a public library. Accordingly she at once donated the sum of two thousand dollars for the purchase of books, and in a short time deeded to the city the building in which the library was located, which at that time was valued at six thousand dollars. The building is of brick, located in the business section of the city and is one of the best in the city. The use of the books is free to all citizens and the city is only required to levy a fraction of a mill for maintenance. It is one of the institutions of which the city has always had just reason to feel proud, and it has always been liberally patronized by the public.
F. W. SAMUELSON.
Mr. Frank W. Samuelson, who was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, and who came to Humboldt in 1873, played a most important part in all the early history of Humboldt and to his faith and perserevance much of what Humboldt is today should be credited. The year previous to his coming to Humboldt he was united in marriage to Hannah Steele at Falls City. At once, upon his arrival here, he commenced the erection of his fine residence on Fourth street at a cost of five thousand dollars, which at the time was the biggest venture in the way of a dwelling house so far under- taken in the town.
It was during this year that the country was devastated completely of all its growing crops by the grasshopper scourge and he was ridiculed on all sides for plunging in a country so new and unsafe. His spirit was undaunted, however, and in time he proved his faith in the country as well founded. He engaged in the hardware business and established the first bank known as the Humboldt Bank in a frame building. He continued in the banking business and later was the moving spirit in the organization of the First National Bank, of which he served as president for years. In 1870 Mr. Samuelson erected the opera house, which seats five hundred people and later, in. 1878, he constructed a part of the brick building on the south side of the square. His success was rapid and substantial and he was for many years rated as one of the leading men in the county financially.
CHURCHES OF IIUMBOLDT.
The churches of Humboldt are dealt with elsewhere in this work in the chapter on Churches of Richardson County.
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING AT HUMBOLDT, NOW OWNED BY THE C. S. P. S., A BOHEMIAN SOCIETY.
LOOKING SOUTH ON CENTRAL AVENUE, HUMBOLDT.
MRS. SIMON QUICK, PIONEER PHYSICIAN AT HUMBOLDT.
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LODGES OF HUMBOLDT.
Humboldt Lodge No. 34, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in July, 1872, with twenty-four charter members. . At the present time the lodge is in a most flourishing condition and has commenced the erection of a new building to take the place of the old one destroyed by fire a few years since. This lodge has always owned its own home.
Humboldt Lodge No. 25, Knights of Pythias, was organized on June 2, 1880 with fourteen charter members. It is one of the largest lodges in southeastern Nebraska and owns a fine building on the west side of the public square, which building was erected by the lodge a few years ago.
Humboldt Lodge No. 40, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered in June, 1873, with nine members. It has made a steady growthi and owns its own hall. The lodge at this time is one of the largest in the city and is composed of an active and progressive membership.
C. S. P. S., is a strictly Bohemian society which has very much the same aims as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The society was established in May, 1879, with a membership of fifteen. The order has grown steadily.
Humboldt Lodge No. 5, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was or- ganized in December, 1882, with a membership of eleven. It has a large membership throughout all the years and has paid many benefit claims.
William Mix Post No. 66, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized on June 28, 1881, with fourteen charter members.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN HUMBOLDT.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized in May, 1888, with Mrs. Esterbrook as president. During the years of its existence it has been most active in the temperance movement and Humboldt was one of the first of the larger towns in the county to dispense with the saloon.
The Ceska Kapela Humboldt band was organized in 1884. under the leadership of Prof. A. Watzek, who had but recently arrived from Russia. where he had been employed in the military bands. This superb musical organization was made up strictly of Bohemians and kept together for years under its efficient leadership.
The Enterprise band was organized in the spring of 1888, and was made up of both old and new material. Frank .\. Harrison, at that time the editor of the Enterprise, was the leader.
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HUMBOLDT CEMETERY.
The eight acres of the Humboldt cemetery were purchased from E. P. Tinker in 1871, and is on an eminence overlooking the city from the west. It is one of the prettiest cemeteries in the county.
NATURAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES NEAR HUMBOLDT.
In the earlier years Humboldt City was well supplied from coal mined in the south part of Speiser township, about ten miles from town. The coal was delivered in town to users at from four and a half to five dollars per ton.
A good quality of sand for all building purposes has always been easily obtainable from a large bank a couple of miles west of town.
From the earliest days, brick for building and paving purposes have been manufactured near the city. In the later years, when more modern methods were necessary, a company known as the Humboldt Brick Com- pany was organized and, with the necessary capital, built a modern brick- making establishment about a mile to the west from town, where the annual output has been large. Brick in large quantities are being shipped daily to points far removed from the state, and a large number are used by the Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company. The company has been highly successful.
The Hodapp stone quarries, a mile and a half south from the city, have long enjoyed an enviable reputation for the high grade of building stone cut there. The stone is a clear white limestone, easily obtainable and of any size required. Besides these there are numerous other quarries in easy reach of town.
THE STEAM FLOURING MILLS.
The most important institution of this kind is owned by O. A. Cooper and is located in the south part of town on the Burlington & Missouri right-of-way, near the depot. The building is four stories high and cost originally fifty thousand dollars. It was built in 1882 with five runs of buhrs, but a little later a roller system was put in. The machinery, with the elevator in connection, is operated with a Corliss engine of one hundred and ten horse-power.
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HOTELS OF HUMBOLDT.
What is known as the Central Hotel was built in 1871 by S. M. Hilbert, who ran it for a time and later sold it to Luther Nims. It was operated successively by E. S. Norton, J. W. Minnick, William Sweeney, G. M. Filson, H. Shurtleff and James Russell, who recently died at Lincoln, Nebraska, aged one hundred years and seven days. It was for long the largest hotel in town and cost nearly five thousand dollars.
The Enoch House, the first and oldest hotel of Humboldt, was built in 1869 by Capt. A. M. Enoch, who operated it for many years, followed by Miss Maggie E. Ellsworth. It was recently dismantled to give room for a large, new garage erected by Col. M. W. Harding.
The Filson House, owned by Mayor G. M. Filson on East Third street, was opened in 1880 and served the people for several years.
The Park Hotel was erected in more recent years and is the leading hotel in the city. . It was built by a company, composed of E. H. Veits, E. P. Tinker and others, and is now owned by Dr. J. L. Gandy. It was, at the time built, one of the finest hotels in southeast Nebraska, but like other hotels in the county the present demands more than tax its limited facilities.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF HUMBOLDT.
H
Towns, like individuals, often have features which distinguish them from all about them, and it is interesting to note in this connection that Humboldt is no exception to the rule. To begin with the town, differing from her sister cities of the county, was laid out or platted in such manner that the business district is arranged around an open block or "square," as it is and has always been called, whichi area has now the nature of a public park. Other towns of the county had platted open squares, but they were so left for the site of a court house in the event that the seat of justice was thrust upon them. Since this was not the case, the court house blocks were soon built up as were the other blocks. In the case of Humboldt it was for no such purpose that the square was arranged for. The idea of a square or park had found favor with the founder of the town, Mr. O. J. Tinker, and his son, Edward P. Tinker, from the fact that they had seen towns similarly platted in Eastern states, and in the case of Humboldt a full block containing two acres, was left for this purpose. No buildings of any kind were ever allowed built inside the enclosed area, the idea being that it should be left as a park and recently
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a handsome cement bandstand was erected in the center and a fountain placed nearby. On one of the large posts was placed a marble slab en- graved upon which is the name of the founder, O. J. Tinker, and following. the date of the gift to the city. Surrounding the bandstand a grove of trees planted many years ago furnish shade and the ground is sown to blue grass, which lawn is nicely kept. Public entertainments of all kinds are held in the park in the summer season. Cement walks, north, south, east and west, meet in the center, and benches have been placed for the comfort and convenience of the people.
NARROWEST STREET OF 11UM BOLDT.
The square was so platted that the center, east and west of its north and south sides fronts North and South Central avenue, the main thorough- fare of the town. The square lies between Second and Third streets, which are cross-town streets, running east and west. The four corners of the square strike midway of the blocks and have no outlet north and south direct with but one exception at the northeast corner, where a street was made many years ago for convenience of parties of the northeast residential dis- trict, and this street is without a doubt the narrowest street in the county. being but eight feet wide. It continues with the same narrow dimensions for two blocks to the north, where it connects up with a full width street, known as Edwards street. The narrow street is one of the most used of the town. The land so used was donated at an early day by the property owners having lots adjacent. with the stipulation that the city should keep up the sidewalks.
STOCK INTERESTS AT HUMBOLDT.
In the late eighties and early nineties the horse interests of Him- boldt and vicinity were not equaled anywhere in the state of Nebraska. The raising and breeding of racing and draft horses was indulged in by many and at a profit. It was here that "Maxy Cobb," 2:13, king of the turf at that time, was for a while owned. His full sister was sold from Hum- boklt for five thousand dollars to a leading stock farm in the state of Kentucky. Others were sold for one, two and three thousand dollars. Among those prominent in the business were Ed Pyle. R. S. Molony, Jr .. Ed Dorland, who owned "Calamity Dick" ( 2538) ; Gus Fellers, Geo. Schmel- zel. John Rhoads, Joseph Sarback, Spencer Hilbert, Oscar Quick, Henry Rosenberger, J. C. Smutz, E. K. Kentner. Henry Patterson, C. E. Nims,
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H. T. Hull. The most valuable collection of fashionably-bred trotters owned in the state were in the stables of Capt. Ed. Pyle, who owned a farm north of the city. The names of the horses owned by the above men were as well known to the people of those days as the owners themselves. The ban placed on racing in many of the states in later years brought the business into disfavor from a financial standpoint, and the keeping of this class of horses was discontinued.
FINE HOGS.
The first impetus to the raising of high-grade hogs in this section was pioneered by W. O. Quick who, in 1874, commenced importing and breed- ing his herd of Poland Chinas, later known throughout the county. He carried on the business at his farm a few miles north of Humboldt on Kirkum Branch. William Brandow later became an extensive breeder of the famous Duroc-Jersey red hogs, which were very popular. Fred L. Lewis also was one of the most extensive breeders of Poland China hogs in southeast Nebraska.
CATTLE.
J. W. Gavitt, a well-known old soldier and auctioneer residing north: of Humboldt about eight miles, was the pioneer in pedigreed cattle busi- ness. His favorite breed was the Red Polled cattle. As a leader in high-graded cattle business he was followed by Col. M. W. Harding and Lewis Howe, who had the Polled Angus and Hereford breeds, and E. C. Hill, Sr., who had one of the finest Galloway herds in the West.
PIONEERS OF HUMBOLDT, NEBRASK.1.
There is presented in this group, pictures of fourteen old gentlemen, whose ages average eighty years. These are not all the old men in Hum- boldt. but all who could be got together the day the picture was taken. Since the photograph was taken a number of years ago each and all of these men have passed to the great beyond.
O. J. TINKER.
O. J. Tinker, the first one of this group to come to Humboldt, was' born in 1812, a native of Ohio, and came to Nebraska in 1857. As will be seen by reading the history of Humboldt, he was the founder of the
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town. Always active and enthusiastic for Humboldt, he has been honored many times by the people of his home with official position. He presented the city with the land which is now the beautiful park in its center. He was postmaster, territorial representative, captain of the home guards during the war, county commissioner, county superintendent, town assessor, city clerk and justice of the peace, besides many places of honor in church and school. The history of Humboldt is in part, the biography of O. J. Tinker.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FERGUSON.
B. F. Ferguson was the first of this group of old men to come to Nebraska. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, settled in Ohio in 1837, where he learned and followed the trade of pump-maker. He owned a full set of pump tools made over one hundred years ago. He moved from Ohio to Indiana, and then to Illinois, where he lived on a small farm and kept a grocery store.
He came to Richardson county in April, 1857, and settled in Franklin township, which he had the honor of naming. Here he engaged in stock raising and keeping a grocery store. He enlisted in the Second Nebraska cavalry at the breaking out of the Civil War and, at the expiration of enlistment, he served in the mounted militia.
J. M. DEWEESE.
J. M. Deweese was the next oldest in point of residence in Humboldt. He was born near Glasgow, Kentucky, August 15, 1815, went to Illinois, near Jacksonville, in 1838, and from there to Iowa in 1844. where he home- steaded. He came to Nebraska in 1864, and located near Dawson, lived there until 1884 when he moved to Humboldt. He was married when he was eighteen years old to Ann Wine, and was the father of ten chil- Iren, most of whom survived him.
S. S. WHITE.
S. S. White was born at Stratford, Vermont, May 22, 1815, and when four years old moved to New York with his parents. In 1835 he enlisted in the regular army sent against the Seminole Indians. He enlisted in the War of the Rebellion and served two years in Company G. Seventy-seventh New York Volunteers. After his discharge, he remained in New York three years, then came to Nebraska and took a homestead seven miles south of Humboldlt. He was married February 22, 1852, to Marcia Camp.
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BENJAMIN DRAKE.
Benjamin Drake was born on a farm near Trenton, New Jersey, Sep- tember 20, 1817. He came to Richardson county in 1869 and bought a farm four miles east of Humboldt, to which city he moved in 1883. He was married in 1841 to Ann Reed.
JOHN A. DUPHRAY.
John A. Duphray was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, December 25. 1814. He came to Nebraska in 1869.
JACOB BOOP.
Jacob Boop was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1825. He came to Nebraska in 1870 and settled in Porter precinct, nine miles north- east of Humboldt. He moved to the city in 1896.
WILLIAM CHURCH BISSELL.
William Church Bissell was born June 8, 1810, in Aurora, Ohio. He graduated from Yale in the class of 1835 and devoted his entire life to teaching. He came to Nebraska in 1873 and built a dwelling in Hum- boldt.
CHARLES QUACKENBUSH.
Charles Quackenbush was born in Greenville, New York, October 12, 1816. He has lived in Illinois, Texas and Kansas. He came to Humboldt in 1877 and resided there until his death.
E. H. MILLER.
E. H. Miller was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, April 29, 1822. He lived in Michigan and Illinois and came to Nebraska in 1878, in which year he settled in Humboldt.
JAMES BRIAR.
James Briar was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1823, and came to Nebraska in 1882. He was a soldier in the War with Mexico, also in the Civil War.
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JAMES SEVERNS.
James Severns was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1820. He lived in Illinois and Missouri before coming to Nebraska.
DR. JAMES G. COX.
Dr. James G. Cox was a native of Kentucky and was born in 1814. Hle practiced medicine in 1853 at Jacksonville, Illinois. He was twice married. He served under General Taylor in the Mexican War and in the Civil War he was assistant surgeon in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois Volunteers. He was the first physician in Humboldt.
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