USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward County, Nebraska, and reminiscenses of territorial history > Part 24
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"A school district was organized in the spring of 1869. with Thomas J. Poore as director. A schoolhouse (sod) was built in the fall of that year, and a teacher hired, who com- menced his labors January 1, 1870. We learn that the aver- age attendance was twenty. A lyceum was also organized about January 1st, which was christened the Pioneer Ly- ceum, and which has been in full blast ever since, meeting weekly, and as far as I can learn, giving general satisfaction. In connection with the lyceum a paper was established (Pio- neer Banner) devoted to literature, fine arts, general news, and advertisements. The paper has been well and ably ed- ited, but an exchange of editors being necessary according to the by-laws, a 'Poore' man was placed in the editorial chair.
"Our school closed its winter term February 25th, with honor to both teacher and scholars, the exhibition-the first in the county-taking place on Monday the 28th. The house was crowded, and everything passed off harmoniously, and to the entire satisfaction of all, Hon. W. R. Davis delivering the oration.
"Thrift and enterprise seem to prevail. No less than seven wells have been sunk within sixty days, with gratify- ing results.
"The weather for the past few weeks has been magnifi- cent. Preparations will soon be made for seeding if the
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
weather continues good. We are looking for an early spring.
"Plenty of good land to the north and west of us, but none in this immediate vicinity.
"And now, Mr. Editor, having given you our situation, we trust that your endeavors to establish a first class county newspaper will prove successful, and that your career may be honorable and prosperous to yourself and those you rep- resent, is the wish of your correspondent."
Clippings from old numbers of the Nebraska Atlas: (On- ly part of the files have been preserved.)
Feb. 27, 1871-Addie, wife of J. P. Losee, died. Mrs. Losee leaves a husband and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. She had been married but a year.
Mrs. Abram Wallick also died the same day. She was in her thirty-sixth year, and was the mother of thirteen children, and a very estimable Christian lady. Her husband and large family, and a host of friends mourn for her.
July 21st-Warren Clough's wedding occurred.
July 28th-The first brick dwelling is mentioned, D. C. McKillip's residence.
Sep. 1st-Notice is given of the appointment of W. W. Cox as statistical correspondent of the Department of Agriculture.
Sep. 22nd-John Robert's new farm house is looming up.
Nov. 3rd-Notes the advent of a man, wife, and nine girls, and only one son-in-law.
The Presbyterian church is raised.
June 18, 1873-I. B. Compton has just finished the first tin roof in Seward. [The old postoffice building, just west of the Butler block. ]
Same date notes that fourteen Bohemians loaded up with building material for their houses in Hamilton county.
The visit of Thomas Scott, the railroad king, and ex- Gov. Dennison, of Ohio, is commented on.
July 2nd-Four fights in the streets are mentioned.
Aug. 27th-The Seward grain-buyers get rough over- hauling.
Sep. 3rd-$5,000 school bonds were voted by a majority of twenty-one.
July 23rd-State Bank is open for business.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Aug. 13th-The purchase of the Presbyterian bell is noted. Also that the telegraph is completed to Seward.
Dec. 10th-The Mohawk Lumber Company has unloaded one hundred and seventy cars of lumber since March 1st.
Jan. 21, 1874-John N. Edwards is advertised for a free lecture in the church.
Jan. 2st -- John Tresslar and Carrie Olmstead are mar- ried.
Jan. 28th-The Baptist church was completed.
March 4th-The paper is badly nettled by the ‘crusade movement,' and its columns are full of burlesque notices of them. They were evidently making it difficult for him to get his regular drinks.
April 22nd -War was declared by Foucet's saloon against the crusaders, and a shameful scene ensued, which reflected no credit on the town or its officers.
May 13th-The incoming Midland train ran over a pole- cat, and the passengers needed no perfumery for some time.
May 20th-The injunction in the case of Monteith, in re- gard to planting trees on the public square, is yet unsettled.
May 27th-Work on the M. E. church is being pushed with vigor.
May 29th-Leroy Moffitt, the only son of Lewis Moffitt, died. Leroy was a kind hearted boy of about twenty years, and the loss is sadly felt by his parents, the friends of the family, and the young people, with whom he was a favorite.
June 3rd- Little, Brock & Curson's elevator is under construction, the first in town.
July 15-The drowning of Peter Gerken in the Blue riv- er just south of town is noted. Also that Pricheau's block is going up rapidly; that Seward has three select schools; and also, that the comet is visible and growing brighter.
It was truly an up-hill business to run a paper in so sparse- . ly a settled country, and Editor Williams had a hard time of it.
In the winter of 1870 and 1871 the Atlas, as we used to say of poverty stricken cattle, "was on the lift," and the citizens made a festival to help it out and keep the poor thing from winter-killing.
By the way, Seward was a great place in those early days for festivals and sociables. They were always well at-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
tended and proved both entertaining and profitable. It made no difference if it was for the benefit of the church or some other public enterprise, the people flocked to such entertain- ments and were all on a perfect equality Old and young were there without distinction as to standing, race, or color. The people were all upon a perfect equality and enjoyed life remarkably well.
The Nebraska Atlas managed to eke out an existence for nearly four years. Mr. Williams grew tired and disposed of the office and good will (that good will was a big thing "you know") to W. C. Cloyd and he associated with him Prof. O. S. Ingham again and they attempted to convert the paper into a great literary paper similar in appearance to the Toledo Blade, but they did not have Nasby to edit it and so the failure was complete. Prof. Ingham again took to the school-room where he was perfectly at home, and Mr. Cloyd managed to get the Atlas back into shallow water where it could swim or wade, and it managed to live until sometime in the summer of 1874, when it gave up the ghost. It died of too much democracy for its day.
THE BLUE VALLEY RECORD
Was the second newspaper to put in an appearance. It was first issued on the 29th day of December, 1870, at Mil- ford and it continued its existance until April 10th, 1873. It was a lively and interesting paper from start to finish. Cul- ver and Parsons were the editors from its beginning to the end and they worked manfully for what they thought to be for the best interest of Milford and the county. They held Milford up before the world with ability and energy, and many times they made it quite interesting for the Seward people. It frequently measured swords with the Atlas and later with the Reporter.
The files of the Record have all been well preserved and it has been our privilege to examine every page of them and have gleaned many interesting facts of historic value and many incidents both curious and interesting. We make no excuse for the free use we make of clippings. The valuable files are deposited with the State Historical Society at Lin-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
coln. The work of the Record has frequently been quoted in other papers in these pages, and now the best history we can give is to let it tell its own story in the following clip- pings.
From the Blue Valley Record of December 29, 1870, the first number ever issued, we extract the following inter- eresting items:
The editor opens his paper with a three-column history of the county, in which he claims that Thomas West made the first settlement in 1859, and Daniel Morgan in 1860. He also credits J. L. Davison with being the third settler. This we are quite sure is a mistake. for we were at Mr. Davison's house on Salt creek as late as the autumn of 1861, a little to the south west of the present town of Roca. Mr. Davison opened his old Camden ranch in the fall of 1862. James West located in 1860, near his brother Thomas; and Orin Johnson as early as 1860.
The editor says that Mr. Davison, with a man by the name of Ellis, located the territorial road from Nebraska City to Fort Kearney, but fails to state the time. We are quite sure this occurred in the spring of 1860, for we distinctly remem- ber that Wm. E. Hill and party, of Nebraska City, went and built the old bridge on the Blue near Camden, just above the forks of the river and just by the county line, in the early summer of 1860. So it is quite probable that the road was then located. The editor says that Mr. Davison, as he re- turned from this trip, pre-empted a place near Camden, which was afterwards the ranch. This is undoubtedly correct, but pre-emptors did not have to so carefully watch their claims then as later. There were scarcely any to molest or make afraid. The changing the name of the county is noted, and the building of the West mills; Parker and Roper's mill at Camden, and the Milford mills are all mentioned, and the agricultural resources and possibilities of the county are dis- cussed at length. It is noted that immigration set in in earnest in 1866, and that all the eastern and northern states were represented. and it was claimed that the closing of the year 1870 found full three thousand souls in the county.
It was claimed that in the summer of 1870 there were broken over four thousand acres of land. The average crop
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY. NEBRASKA
report was noted as follows: wheat, twenty bushels per acre; oats, forty; corn, forty-five. Numerous groves had been planted. Osage, plum, cottonwood and walnut were experi- mented with for hedges. Our soils are described as rich sandy loam, largely composed of decayed vegetable matter and underlaid with a clay subsoil, and well adapted to with- stand drouth. The peat deposits west of Milford are noticed. The surface and drainage of the county are favorably com- mented upon, and it was claimed that the waste lands were all in some other county, which was very correct. The water-powers of the rivers receive favorable mention. The red sandstone of Middle creek, and the white limestone in the southern part of the county, also the shell limestone of the north-east, are all noted. The indications of coal are mentioned.
The school system and first school are mentioned as follows:
"The county being so thinly settled, the formation of a school district was not to be thought of until the year 1867, when a few families combined and formed an independent school at Camden, and employed Miss Eva Hooker as teacher. This we believe to be the first school in the county." In this the editor is mistaken. There was one up near West Mills prior to this; also one at Seward as early as the previous winter. The people are represented as wide-awake in edu- cational matters, and every individual was a committee of one to see that there was a school at the earliest possible date, and the result has been a healthy growth of educational interests in the young county. At the date of writing there are sixteen organized districts and one academical associa- tion. The teachers are highly commended, and also the pa- trons, for their zeal. The Southern Nebraska C. C. Acad- emy, under the supervision of Hon. Geo. B. France, is spoken of as highly creditable to the county, and as already well spoken of abroad.
Three villages-Camden Milford and Seward-are all spoken of in the highest terms; a compliment is paid to the Nebraska Atlas, the pioneer newspaper of the county. Mil- ford was well described as the county seat, and with two good water-powers and splendid possibilities.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
In summing up the growth it is noted that from three families in 1862, now three thousand bright intelligent people have united their fortunes with the interests of the county.
The editor seems to have set squarely before the world the county of his choice, and he certainly did it; and even now we remember his efforts with gratitude, as he was so earnestly striving to make this wilderness to smile.
CLIPPINGS.
"We notice a motto on a prairie schooner as follows: 'York county or bust.'"
"The apportionment of school money to Seward county for 1870 is $1,452.42 to 782 scholars."
We also note from same table that whole number of scholars in Nebraska was 32,762.
The editor's salutatory contains these words: "Morally we shall labor for what we believe to be truth and justice, and shall act upon what we profess." Also it says: "We shall labor for the best interests of the republican party, not in a partisan spirit, but in a firm belief that it is the true party of progress and reform."
January 5, 1871. - "J. L. Davidson, of Milford, has near- ly completed the largest and best dwelling house in the coun- ty." The house spoken of is the square house just west of the bridge. It don't look the largest or the best in 1905.
"A number of prominent Seward people are in town (Milford) attending probate court." That reads strangely now.
"Win. G. Keen is recommended for postmaster at Nelden, the new office on Walnut creek ten miles west of Milford."
January 12th. - "Fresh buffalo meat is on sale, at three cents per pound."
From a communication by Fair Play, it is claimed that Miss Agnes Bailey (now Mrs. Cornelius West) taught the first school in Saline county, near the county line, and was patronized by citizens of both counties. This was in the spring of 1861. She also taught a school near West's mill in 1863. So she has the honor of teaching the first school of both Saline and Seward co unties; and Miss Englehouft
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY. NEBRASKA
taught the West Mills school in 1865-66. In 1866 the resi- dents of Camden district organized under the school law, bought the old building in Saline county and moved it over, and Thomas Graham taught during the winter of 1866-67.
The same articles mentions that Thomas Graham has a fine orchard of apple and pear trees which are doing well, and that J. W. Lowrie has peaches of his own planting, probably the first in the county. It is also mentioned that Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Lowrie, and Mrs. Parker are making the prairie blaze with the variety and beauty of their flowers.
The county superintendent reports the school fund as follows:
Apportioned by state. $1,452 42
Dog fund . 193 38
Fines and licenses 100 00
Total $1,745 80
This was distributed to twenty-six directors as follows: District No. 1, F. L. Roper, Camden $ 85 25
..
2, Orin Johnson, West Mills . 44 58
3, Sam Englehaupt, on West Blue 51 15
4, W. J. Thompson, on Walnut creek. 74 65
5, Rev. T. M. Skinner, Milford. 150 67
6, Matthew Hackworth (east of Ruby). .. 110 00
66 7, Geo. W. Lesenby, north of Milford. . 44 58
8, Wm. Anderson, west of Seward 87 32
9, H. L. Boyes, Seward. 125 92
10, J. D. Thurman, on Lincoln creek. 58 72
11, W. W. Cox, north-west of Seward ... 44 58
12. T. Poore, six miles north of Seward . . 76 42
13, C. C. Berkey, center of "A". 88 79
14, E. C. Archer, west of Staplehurst. 74 65
66 15, wanting
16, A. Montgomery, north-west of "N". 78 19
17, M. M. Neeves 62 28
18, Sam Strohm, center of "O" 33 96
19, Ed. Healey, south west of "P" 56 95
20, J. N. McCauley, center of "M" 58 73
. C 21, J. A, Reymer, south-east of "I" 53 42
22, Wolsey Weyant, southern "H" 46 35
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
District No. 23, Thos. Healey, northern "N" 55 19
24, R. J. McCall, west of "M" 44 58
25, Wm. Halle, south-east of "N" 34 10
26, Geo. W. Losy (Bachelor) 51 65
This was done at Milford, January 7, 1871, by George B. France, superintendent.
The reader will please compare the above table with the present showing of the disbursements to ninety districts. It will be noticed that Milford district at that date was the most populous and had the most money, while Seward was second.
In March, 1871, it is noted that James Iler was appointed postmaster at Pleasant Dale.
April 6th-The organization of the American Bible So- ciety by Rev. McCandlish, of Omaha. Messrs. Birge, Keyes, S. Brown, and D. C. Tift were elected executive committee. Culver and Parsons were appointed to care for the books.
Editor noting a visit of Geo. Mckay, A. D. Sperry, and E. H. Nonon, of the north part of the county, says: "Perhaps we can visit you by rail before another century." The century proved to be a short one. You can do it now, my friend.
April 13th-"S. W. Houston has received his appointment as postmaster at Oak Grove." Now "A" town.
April 20th-"Wmn. Knight has received his appointment as postmaster at Groveland north of Seward."
May 4th-The return of a hunting party consisting of J. W. Hickman, Mr. Davis, Ellis Gandy, Elias Frame, and oth- ers, with three loads of buffalo meat. Their game was caught on the Kansas border, south of the Republican.
One hundred and eighty-nine emigrant wagons passed through Milford during April.
Tuesday, May 2d-The second term of the district court met. Judge Lake on the bench. Twenty-four cases on the docket.
We glean from the county superintendent's report for the year ending April 1st, the following interesting educa- tional statistics:
Whole number of children of school age. . 1,247
Number attending school 679
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Number of teachers employed (male)
19
(female) 20
Average daily attendance 754
.$3,717.00 Total amount paid teachers during year
We also glean from an editorial note that there are twen- ty school-houses -- six frame, four log, seven sod, and three dug-outs. The editor remarks that the people must have an inordinate desire to educate the children, to face winter storms across the blighted railroad lands, long distances to a dug-out or sod shanty to school. We think as much.
From a Seward correspondent of June 1, 1871, that Sew- ard is a bright town of three summers, and has about one hundred and seventy people.
We also note that at that time H. M. Coleman was princi- pal of our school.
The organization of the Odd Fellows' Lodge, with L. G. Johns as Noble Grand.
Tuesday, June 13th-At Milford the Good Templars or- ganized a lodge. Rev. J. M. Yearnshaw, Dis. D. G. W. C. T., assisted by D. W. Amesbury, of Lincoln. Officers elected were: J. L. Davidson, W. C. T .; Miss Mattie Drake, W. V. T .; H. G. Parsons, W. R. Scribe; G. B. France, W. F. Sec .; Mrs. J. Laune, W. Treas. ; F. J. Culver, W. Chaplain. Onaway was the name chosen.
Beaver Crossing was mentioned as "Nicholsville," and it is reported that work on the mill was progressing finely. Main street is being surveyed, and everything is bidding fair to make a youthful city in a short time.
June 15th-H. W. Parker's nomination as registrar of Beatrice land office is noted.
July 20th-"Corn stands about six feet high in the Blue valley."
July 6th-"Jeff Stevens, a resident six miles north-west of here, was found under a load of overturned lumber. about four miles east of town, near the bridge on Middle creek. Mr. Stevens leaves a wife and ten children to mourn his loss."
The June apportionment of school moneys show $2,021.10, divided among forty districts.
We also notice that in this apportionment Seward leads
.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
with $132.90, and Milford takes the second place with $125.25. Fourteen new districts had been formed since January.
This number contains a sharp letter from "Well Wisher," on the county seat embroglio. Also a long editorial on a newly discovered coal mine, which it was claimed had been found by Mr. Stockton, forty-seven feet below the surface, and Mr. S. claimed they had bored four feet and six inches into solid coal.
July 27th-Milford is announced as a money order office.
August 10th-Dr. Woodward is announced for a lecture. Subject: "Immateriality of the mind and its relation to the body."
August 19th-The Record gives some heavy hits at the Seward liars for reporting small-pox at Milford.
August 24th-Gold is quoted at $1.12.
Same date, we find the report of a railroad meeting at Camden, W. C. Scott, chairman, and Ed. Healy, secretary. Judge Hooker and Gen. Vifquain offered the following reso- lutions:
WHEREAS, We, citizens of Seward, Saline, York, Ham- ton and Hall counties, have been fraudulently deprived of the benefits that might have arisen out of the construction of the B. & M. R. R. on their original survey, and
WHEREAS, We settled along the line with the full un- derstanding that the road should be built on said survey, ac- cording to act of Congress, donating to them half of our na- tional inheritance, and
WHEREAS, The said corporation is assisted by Nebraska politicians, in its schemes to plunder the people,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we pledge our sacred honors, without any regard to party ties, to send to oblivion by the strength of our ballots any man that comes before us for office who is in any manner connected with this corporation.
RESOLVED, That we authorize S. M. Boyd to commence proceedings in Nebraska and at Washington against said B. & M. R. R. Co. for the purpose of compelling them to build a line of railroad on their original survey, or that they be deprived of the lands received under this pledge.
RESOLVED, That the people of the United States, look- ing for location in Nebraska, are hereby notified that we
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
hold the purchase of said railroad lands to be a dangerous bargain for the purchaser.
RESOLVED, that these resolutions be published in all Nebraska papers, and in three in fowa, and at least two in Illinois.
Resolutions adopted unanimously.
It was a swindle on the people of this and western coun- ties. to give up half their lands to the rapacious corporation, and then not get a mile of the road.
September 7th- The county commissioners order an election on location of county seat, and the editor gives them a terrible scolding.
Report of the election of the new constitution. At this time there were seven precincts, as follows:
Milford, for constitution
122
Against. 0
Walnut Creek
37
0
Beaver Crossing
36
1
Oak Grove
33
0
Camden
30
0
Seward
68
8
North Blue
25
3
Total
358 Total. 12
First number of Nebraska Reporter is received, and is unfavorably commented on, on account of harsh epithets and course language used.
October 5th-S. R. Douglas caught a coon.
October 19th-The Record has heard of the county seat election, and has its war paint on.
October 25th-"County commissioners have re-districted the county into eight districts, as follows: Townships nine and ten, range one, form Beaver Creek; townships eleven and twelve, Lincoln Creek; township twelve, ranges two and three, North Blue; township eleven, ranges two and three. Seward; townships nine and ten, range three, Milford; town- ships nine and ten, range four, Camden; townships eleven and twelve, range four, Oak Grove."
The editor takes a ride over to Beaver Crossing, and finds the new town flourishing. Ross Nichols, Daniel Mills- paw, Roland Reed, John E. Fouse, McCauley, John Leonard
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
and Osborne, are mentioned as thrifty farmers. The new mill of Mr. Smith is highly spoken of. Thomas Tisdale's store is noted as one of the best store buildings in the coun- t.y.
October 26th-The election of officers of the county agricultural society, at Seward, is noted as occurring on the 16th inst .. when W. W. Cox was elected president; Henry Wortendyke, vice president; James A. Brown, recording secretary; A. L. Strang, corresponding secretary; Robert McCrossin, treasurer; directors-E. B. Shafer, J. W. Lee, George W. Standard, and Thomas Graham.
November 30th -- There is a long correspondence from Seward about the court house location, wherein Croney, Williams (O. T. B.) and Ellsworth, are discussed at large by Mortimer. Wm. Hornburg, one of the commissioners, also gets a rub. At that time there was a struggle between Harris on one side and Cloyd on the other as to where the court house should be located. We note in the commissioners' meeting of November 21st, that a resolution passed the board by the votes of Imlay and Hornburg to accept the prop- osition of W. C. Cloyd, to place the court house on block 35, in Cloyd's addition, just west of the M. E. church, pro- vided a good title to the property should be made to the county without expense. This resolution must have been re-considered at some other and later meeting, for the court- house evidently was not placed on that block.
Dec. 7th-Notice is given that a lodge of Good Templars will be instituted at Beaver Crossing, Dec. 16, 1871.
Dec. 14th-Contains a report from County Superintend- ent France, from which we glean that during the year 103 teachers had been examined, seventy-four of whom obtained certificates, sixty third grades, and fourteen second grades; fifty-two were employed during the year. Superintendent's salary, $200. A healthy growth and improvement is noted, and many new school-houses were erected. An appropria- tion is recommended for charts, globes, and other fixtures for the schools.
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