USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward County, Nebraska, and reminiscenses of territorial history > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
Jan. 4, 1872-The railroad bond proposition gets an over- hauling by the editor.
Jan. 11th-There was a wide-awake meeting at Beaver
301
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Crossing, wherein the bond proposition receives the follow- ing send-off:
Resolved, That the county commissioners have disgraced themselves in the eyes of the tax-payers. etc., etc.
Resolved, That this scheme to vote bonds is to aid a mo- nopoly, a one-sided railroad affair, a disgrace to the people, and a binding curse upon our county, etc., etc.
This interesting document was signed by W. J. Thomp- son, T. H. Tisdale, and Daniel Millspaw, committee.
Also notices that Col. Vifquain will stump the county against bonds. Bond meetings, pro and con, will be held throughout the county.
"Monday last a crowded house voted unanimously against bonds. A committee, consisting of W. H. Reed, D. C. Mc- Killip, P. J. Goodrich, Ed Healy, and Cummins, were ap- pointed to hold meetings for defeat of the bonds."
The burden of the song for all the weeks prior to the election day, February 22nd, is down with the bonds, and on that day they downed them.
We notice among the writers and speakers that were conspicuous in opposition to bonds, was Rev. T. N. Skinner.
Result of the election is noted as follows:
Milford, for bonds
5 votes
Against bonds 147
Camden
6
138
Walnut Creek "
10
130
Beaver Creek "
135
Seward 1
232
3
North Blue
136
0
Oak Grove
47
60
Lincoln Creek
109
6.
9
Total vote
540 Total 622
Majority against, 82.
This ended the first chapter in this desperate sectional struggle, with Seward the under dog.
March 7th-The first issue of the Beaver Tribune, semi- monthly paper at Beaver Crossing, is noticed. This was published by V. W. Wilson & Co.
March 11th-A mass meeting of the people of Camden is held, in which the county commissioners are handled
302
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
without gloves for disfranchising Camden precinct in the bond matter. It has always been supposed that a young Seward lawyer stole from the clerk's office the returns from Camden precinct, and when the canvas of the vote was made there were no returns from Camden, so the commissioners felt obliged to ignore the Camden election, and this Camden mass meeting was ready to take up arms, as it seemed that ballots had failed.
Rev. T. N. Skinner heads an epistle to the people, "Ballots or Bullets."
April 3rd-Seward correspondent says another bond proposition will be submitted; and also says the commis- sioners will dismiss their county attorney, because he is such a consumate liar that they can't believe a word he says; and he is also accused of taking fees on two sides of a case.
Milford money order office shows business for three months to be:
Orders issued $2,653 38
Orders paid . .
961 61
Amount deposited 2,140 00
Total business. $5,755 19
April 4th-Also has the minutes of a mass meeting in Seward to express their abhorrence of the idea of stealing an election. The meeting resolved that the people of Seward firmly believe in a free and untrammeled election, and in jealously guarding the purity of the ballot box; and
"Be it further resolved, That we here assembled ex- press our disapprobation of any scheme or plan for the pur- pose of defeating the expressed will of the county at the late election; and further we are desirous to know the truth or falsity of the charges preferred, and will heartily engage in any movement to ascertain who are the guilty parties, whether in Seward, Camden, or elsewhere, and to bring them to merited punishment." Signed by J. N. Beaty, Chairman; T. J. Hamilton, Secretary.
April 18th-Appears a clipping from the Atlas on the bond election, in which Prof. Ingham says: "Blessed, yea, thrice blessed, are the peace-makers, and most benign would be the labors of any, if only successful in allaying that bitter
303
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
animosity and uncompromising hostility which excites the different sections of our county. This spirit of evil which pervades our county, will, we fear, unless exercised by a gentle spirit of forbearance and reconciliation, become so powerful as to utterly ruin the highests prospects of the whole county." The editor of the Atlas takes occasion to charge in this article the blame on the old settlers of both sections, and charges them with being narrow-minded, etc. This waked up a hornet's nest, and the learned professor soon heard a tremendous buzzing around his ears, and in a subsequent issue he takes everything back, and gets down on his knees in good shape to the old settlers; not only asks forgiveness, but attempts to "bring forth fruits meet for his repentance," and pitches into Milford like a wild cat, and so the battle rages.
May 2nd-It is noted that the commissioners have di- vided Lincoln creek, Oak Grove, and Camden precincts, so that there are now eleven. Also, it is noted that Prof. Ing- ham has retired from the Atlas, and assumed the roll of in- structor. It is also noted that the History of Seward County, by O. T. B. Williams, is just out, and was printed at the Rec- ord office, which has disgusted many of the Seward people. The county superintendent reports thirty male and twenty- eight female teachers employed, and an expenditure of $4- 721.95 between April 3, 1872. Whole number of scholars were 1,731. Approximate number of inhabitants, 5,203.
May 9th-The erection of Tuttle's new hotel is noticed in the Seward correspondence; also the near completion of the Presbyterian church edifice; also a call for the corpora- tion election of the town of Seward; also that Miss Lizzie McKillip (Mrs. Buck) is engaged for the summer school.
May 16th-It is noted that the injunction suit against commissioners in the railroad bond case is made perpetual by Judge Lake, and everybody is satisfied.
June 13th-Notice of a new railroad bond proposition is given. The Seward correspondent calls Hon. Wm. Imlay the county commissioners. The same gentleman, whoever he was, predicted that the same blunderers would in like manner come to grief again. He remarks, no one has any idea they will carry. The drowning of Miss Hattie Tift is
304
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
commented on. She was partially insane. Croney's sale of the Reporter is noted, and of Prof. Ingham assuming the post of editor again.
July 4th-The record says, in flaming head-lines: "Stop the reaper and protect yourselves," thereby meaning that they must stop their work and go and vote against bonds again.
July 11th-The second bond election is reported, in which the famous "Mortimer" is buried under an avalanche of votes, bonds having carried by a majority of 123 votes. It puzzled the editor to know how Seward could swell her vote 81 since last February :
September 19th-The division of Beaver Creek precinct is noted.
September 26th-The removal of D. C. McKillip is com- mented on.
October 3rd-Specimens of peat from Walnut creek are examined and pronounced good.
October 10th -- Reporter has again changed hands.
October 17th -- Two wild deer were seen just west of Milford. We also quote: "The second annual fair at Seward was a success, with a fine display, especially of stock, and a large attendance."
December 5th-The Record announces the death of Hor- ace Greeley, with a fitting eulogy. Mortimer says in the same number that a scandalous story is afloat about one of our county officials. This must mean McPherson, county treasurer.
December 12th -- A discovery of free lime, phosphates, and silicon, a vein twenty-two feet thick. This is on West Blue, in sections 7, 8, and 9, in town 9, range 2, east. The French leave taken by our county treasurer is reported, with a propable loss of five or six thousand dollars.
December 26th- The action of the county board in the removal of the treasurer, McPherson, and the appointment of Wm. B. Thorpe, is commented on.
January 9, 1873-It is noted that a silver-headed cane was voted to W. W. Cox, as the homeliest man in the coun- ty. The same paper notes the scalding of the child of Thomas Osborne on Lincoln creek; also the resignation of
305
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
W. J. Thompson as representative; also the removal of E. L. Clark, Jr., from the Seward postoffice for embezzlement. Said defalcation is said to be about $2.000. L. G. Johns was appointed to the place. The apportionment of school money to Seward county is, to 1701 pupils, $3,690.07.
January 16th-Announcement of the election of D. C. McKillip, representative, to fill a vacancy.
January 23rd-School moneys apportioned among fifty- nine districts.
February 13th-It is mentioned that at the commission- ers' meeting held on February 3rd, the geographical town- ships were made into precincts, and were named for the first sixteen letters of the alphabet. The same issue mentions four marriages in Seward, viz .: Ethan Atwater, Walter Briggs, Mr. Spear, and Andrew Wright.
March 6th-The bill incorporating Seward is noticed by Mortimer, who also says that the railroad track is just being laid into Seward. This letter is dated March 4th. Morti- mer made a mistake, as the track was complete and the cars reached Seward on the evening of March 1, 1873. He also notes that Rev. Rockwell preached his farewell sermon to the Methodist congregation.
April 10th-The editor publishes his valedictory.
We have looked through every page of the files of the Record from first to last, and it is our pleasure to say that the paper was a credit to the county and the state. While the editors worked manfully for the interest of Milford in all her battles, yet they manifested a gentlemanly and courteous attitude towards all. We wish the Record had continued its publication. In quoting so liberally from its columns, we feel that we are giving bits of history, both interesting and profitable, and we hereby extend our warmest thanks to Mr. Culver for the use of his files.
THE NEBRASKA REPORTER
For almost thirty years the Reporter was a leading ex- ponent of republican ideas and a champion of Seward's in- terests. It came just about the time when Harris, Moffitt, and Robert's addition was platted, and it came to stay a
306
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
long time, and it did stay. The editor for a time was Charles Crony. He came with Mr. James Harris. He was what we might call an adventurer. He was a fighter "from away back," and rather sensational in his make-up. The Report- er lost no time in getting into a quarrel with its contempo- rary, the Atlas, and also with the Record. Frequently the air was full of sulphurous smoke. The Reporter was in the field in time to take part in the last county seat contest, and when that was ended it was ready to take a hand in the rail- road bond fight.
The Editor concluded that everything was fair in war, and he acted bravely all along that line. The Reporter was not designed as an exponent of morals. It was here to win. The paper had friends many, and like all aggressive papers, it had enemies not a few. When it got into a rumpus with its contemporaries or other friends, it made the fur fly in all directions. It was amusing to see what a "kilkenny cat fight" there was between the editors of that day. All man- ner of vile epithets were used, notwithstanding all three pa- pers were of the same politics. Early in June, 1872, Crony sold out his interest in the Reporter and Prof. O. S. Ingham became its editor. The professor only continued at its head until October 1st, when he gave up the job and returned to the schoolroom.
Thomas Wolf is now installed as editor. Under Mr. Wolf's management, the Reporter was a financial success, and as an all round fighter, it was steadily improving. There was no truce between the Reporter and Atlas or the Record. The removal of the county seat, followed by the building of the railroad, made it evident that a paper could not be maintained at a profit at Milford, and the Record con- sented to give up the ghost at Milford and take a new life at Lincoln, being consolidated with the Leader of that city. Now the Reporter has only one antagonist. The Atlas has turned a somersault in a political way, and seeks the favor of the democrats. It was not warmly welcomed in the new camp. The democratic brethren surmised that it was a dem- ocratic convert "for revenue only." It was not popular. It managed to live until about the time the grasshoppers came,
307
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
in the summer of 1874, when it said farewell to this old world, and there were but few mourners.
Now the Reporter had a clear field for awhile. Of course it now had a cinch on the county printing and all the job work. With a first class financier at the head, what could hinder success? But Thomas made almost too good use of his opportunities. The county board soon learned that Wolf was not doing the county printing for fun. For about three years the Reporter had its own way about all the time and had come to the conclusion that Seward county belonged to the editor, when all of a sudden there appeared a specter in the sky. Rev. Mr. Haw put in an appearance and started a new democratic paper.
The Reporter thought it to be a small fry, and sneered at its coming: but one morning it awakened to the fact that the Democrat had a bid in for the county printing at just half the Reporter's bid. Calamities do not come singly. In the month of February, 1877, W. S. Walker, who had been schooled amid the snow capped mountains, came to Seward, and after looking over the situation concluded that Seward needed another republican paper. (He was right, it did.) So, the Seward Advocate was launched on the great sea of journalism. Mr. Walker was a wide-awake fellow with ex- perience and full of "dare-devil" grit. There were several bones of contention lying around loose at Seward, and it did not take many weeks to get up a newspaper row, and soon the air was fairly blue. Clippings from these papers will prove very interesting reading.
Mr. Wolf continued at the head of the Reporter until 1882. In the meantime, the Advocate had changed hands, Mr. J. H. Betzer buying the concern and changing its name to the Blade. The bright glimmer of the new Blade had about the same effect on the editor of the Reporter as would the shaking of a red rag in the face of an angry bull. Betzer was no slouch in handling the Blade, which seemed to have two sharp edges. The Democrat, under Mr. Haws, did not tar- ry very long, and there was no side issue to attract attention, and as both Reporter and Blade were born fighting, they must fight, as it seemed to be the object of their existence. Mr. Wolf retired in 1882, and F. G. Simmons became the
308
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
editor, and he managed it eighteen years, or until the close of its eventful life in February, 1900. When Mr. Simmons succeeded to the editorship, the hatchet was buried by him and the Blade man, and it was buried where it could never more be found; and from that glad day the two valuable pa- pers worked in harmony in advancing the best interests of the county and the city; and in this they found much more congenial and profitable employment than in scratching for each other's eyes. Mr. Simmons took the Reporter when he was just a young man. From the start he showed marked ability as a writer, and as an editor he was a success; but unfortunately he was like most good writers, in finance he was not a success. After a long (and at first stormy) career of about thirty years, it died of old age in February, 1900. We quote freely from its files so far as they are at command. By quoting from the files of our county papers we can give a better idea of the growth and progress than by any other means at command.
The following items are taken from the Nebraska Re- porter. We regret to say that the earlier files are only frag- mentary, most of them are destroyed; but were able to get from what we have at command some items of interest:
December 13, 1872-The Baptist church is up and nearly enclosed.
A letter from Shoe String Joe complains bitterly of the management of the Seward postoffice. He says the P. M. is an inveterate novel reader and does not like to be bothered by people asking for mail.
January 4, 1873-A mush and milk sociable for the bene- fit of Rev. J. H. Rockwell was a success, and from fifty to sixty dollars were realized.
Also, that homely man getting the cane is noticed.
The organization of the Seward Literary Club is noticed, of which V. Daniels was chairman, and in which Wm. Leese, T. L. Norval, H. C. Page, D. C. McKillip, T. F. Buck, J. W. English, and C. P. Dick each figured.
January 1, 1873-The New Year's address by O. S. Ing- ham is given.
January 11th-Returns show a total vote of 396 in the special election, wherein D. C. McKillip was elected to fill a
309
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
vacancy in this legislative district. D. C. M. received 208 votes and there were three opposing candidates, viz., Els- worth Hamilton, T. J., and Campbell.
January 18th-The editor is impressed with the number of dead tom cats in the streets.
The marriage of E. M. Spear, of Seward, to Miss May R. Newland, of Rochester, N. Y., is noticed.
May 8th-The charter election of the town of Seward is reported as follows, resulting in the election of V. Daniels, Sam Stevenson, Herman Diers, Wm. Hays, and T. L. Norval as trustees of the village for the coming year. There were 93 votes cast.
May 22nd-The air is filled with grasshoppers, also that work is being pushed on Tishue's store, and the editor says we may as well be proud of such a building. Well, we were, but have gotten bravely over it.
The advent of Claudius Jones is welcomed.
May 29th-The new jail is nearly enclosed.
It is noted that the grasshoppers are doing some damage in a few localities.
June 12th-Sixty buildings in two months, by actual count.
June 26th-Ed. Ingham gets eloquent over a street fight. We quote: "On the morning of the 21st of June the sun in unclouded splendor issued from the pearly portals of the Orient to pursue his daily journey through the shining con- cave heavens, past the lofty zenith, down to his purple cloud- draped ocean couch, behind the western hills," etc.
July 3rd-The M. P. R. R. depot and water tank are about completed.
Sept. 30th-The county fair is pronounced a success.
Sept. 4th- Says from one to two hundred loads of grain are received daily, and threshing hardly commenced.
Feb. 1, 1874-F M. McPherson joins the editorial force of the Reporter.
The marriage of Ethan Atwater is noted.
The town conncil is scored for voting a hundred dollars to H. C. Cloyd for his pamphlet.
Feb. 13th-H. T, Clarke is building a bridge west of town on the river,
310
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
The city is full of strangers.
The organization of the Seward cemetery association is noted.
McPherson, our defaulting treasurer, receives encour- agement and is assured that he has plenty of friends.
May 8th-The editor complains that the Atlas man calls him a lunatic.
Sept. 4th-Dick Norval is building a cozy cage for his prospective bird.
July 31st-School report from district No. 9, with J. A. Brown director, shows 139 pupils in the district; enrolled 66, present that day 44; average attendance 33.
The following was clipped from the Toledo Blade:
"Out at Seward, Nebraska, they build houses for editors in about eight days. The editor of the Reporter gave an order for a residence to a building firm, and in less than two weeks the editor moved into the house, and his wife im- mediately presented him with a fine pair of twin babies. They do things up in a hurry in Nebraska."
The above clippings are not in their regular order, but they were jotted down from miscellaneous papers.
Nov. 15, 1878-Total vote cast in "G" precinct, 286, of which Judge Lake received all but one for judge of the su- preme court. Total vote of county 1156, of which Judge Lake received 1130.
Nov. 22nd-Discusses in detail the street fight at Utica, which occurred some days before, in which railroaders and citizens exercised the pugilistic ability. Also, a stab- bing affray northwest of the city, in which the Manning boys stabbed Frank Slonecker five times with a pocket knife. In the same paper it is noted that township organi- zation carried by a large majority. Also the result of the liquor damage case of Eliza Perkins, wherein she gains a judgment of $3000 against three saloons (this is the first case of the kind ever tried in the state) for selling her husband liquor and thereby causing his death.
Dec. 6th-We notice that R. R. Shick sold, in 1873, bonds for school district No. 46, (now the Purdum district) $1000 for $750, in order to build the little frame school house. We quote the above to show just how our people were bled
311
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
in the early days by capitalists. These bonds were ten per cent bonds and run for ten years.
April 10, 1879-School census shows in district No. 9, Seward, four hundred and eighty-nine school children. The same census gives the total population of the city at 1,250 and of the entire district at 1,666.
April 17th-Is noted the financial condition of the city. Amount on hand April 22, 1878, $68.14; collection to date, $1,101.11; paid out, $885.86; balance on hand, $283.29.
April 24th -Chronicles the arrest of P. B. Thompson for robbing the mails in the Seward postoffice.
May 12th-Gives Orlando J. Cassler's autobiography. We will not quote it.
May 22nd-A full history of the execution is given.
May 29th-Is noticed the purchase of the fire apparatus, chemical engine with hooks and ladders.
June 5th-The triumph of the A. & N. bonds is dwelt on at large. The total vote cast on county bonds was 1,798.
The commencement of Goehner block, on the corner of 7th and Seward streets, is noted. Also Henigan & Ashton's meat market on the east side.
June 26th -- The injunction suit commenced by Claudius Jones against the commissioners in the matter of issuing bonds to the Lincoln & Northwestern company is fully com- mented on, with severe strictures.
The arrest of Isaac Whitman for making counterfeit fif- ty cent pieces is announced. His factory was a dugout near West Mills. He worked over pewter and ground glass and was doing a thriving business.
July 10th-We clip the following from the description of the Fourth of July celebration parade. It speaks for it- self, and shows to what extremes people can be led in hours of wild excitement. We trust those responsible for this scene have long since become ashamed of it:
"An immense hog, which some of the people mistook for an African elephant instead of a Seward county swine, on each side of its back were hung large letters 'B. & M.' A gaudily arrayed man was leading this hog by a strong rope, and this disguised personage was labeled 'U. P.' Fol- lowing the hog came a man with a large shovel on his
312
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
shoulder, with his hat festooned, 'Banker,' and carrying a banner on which was inscribed the device, 'I do the dirty work for this hog, but it pays.'
"A large caricature representing first the figure of a man striking a lively gait, holding in his hand a roll in- scribed, 'Injunction,' which he is handing to an attendant near, accompanied with the exclamation, 'My only refuge is Salt Lake-serve this.' Following comes a woman with a carpet sack, and hanging to the coat tails of the first de- scribed figure, exclaiming, 'Run, I smell tar!' In hot pur- suit comes a crowd in the distance carrying buckets marked tar, and feather beds. On the other end of this large stan- dard was a large sleek man who had 'U. P.' on his hat, and held a rope that had been tied around a partly finished man inscribed 'A. & N.,' but the rope was broken in trying to hold the 'A. & N.' man, and the 'U. P.' figure exclaiming, 'the A. & N. must be stopped at all hazards.'"
Also, the departure of Claudius Jones and family for Salt Lake is noted.
July 24th- It is noted that Fred D. Grant, a young lad living in N precinct, was killed by being dragged by a runa- way horse.
July 31st-Says the contracts for the Norval block are completed.
Also, the death of Mrs. M. W. Warner, in M precinct, which occurred July 23d, 1879. This lady was the former wife of our late school superintendent.
Aug. 7th-It is reported that $60,000 had been received for freight at the B. & M. depot in Seward during the year ending July 31st, 1879.
Oct. 16th-Is noticed at length the shooting by accident of Miss Lizzie Welty, which resulted in the death of a noble young woman.
Also the completion of the railroad to Milford.
Oct. 23d The visit and speech of Hon. De La Matyr is commented on.
Nov. 6th-Is noted the completion of the A. & N. road, and the visit of fifty distinguished citizens of Lincoln.
Nov. 13th-It is mentioned that the following two-story brick buildings have been erected during the season: Heni-
313
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
gan & Ashton's, John Cattle, Sen., Goehner Bros.' engine house, Bischof's, John Roberts', and Norval Bros.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.