USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 10
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SUPERVISORS ELECTED IN 1886.
It will be noted that the commissioner system was changed in January, 1887, to that of township organizations.
A precinct-E. W. Olney. Republican.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
B precinct-M. Dunigan. Democrat.
C precinct-W. H. Dobson. Democrat.
D precinct-A. D. Sperry. Republican.
E precinct-B. C. Fagan. Republican.
F precinct-W. H. Miner. Democrat.
G precinct-Wm. Redford. Republican. H precinct-Carl Koch. Democrat.
I precinct-Fred Fosler. Democrat.
J precinct-O. E. Bernecker. Democrat.
K precinct-J. H. Robertson. Democrat. L precinct-Adam Seed. Republican. M precinct-W. H. Mygatt. Republican.
N precinct-F. W. Upton. Republican.
O precinct-J. L. Burkey. Democrat.
P precinct-Henry Rogge. Democrat.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED IN 1887.
A precinct-J. J. Martin. Democrat. B precinct-C. J. Wright. Democrat.
C precinct-Andrew Schultz. Republican. D precinct-A. D. Sperry. Mugwump. E precinct-B. C. Ragan. Republican. F precinct-Morris Underhill. Republican. G precinct-Chas Lyon. Republican. H precinct-Carl Koch. Democrat. I precinct-D. Dankers. Republican.
J precinct-O. E. Bernecker. Democrat. K precinct-John Florin. Republican. L precinct-Adam Seed. Republican. M precinct-D. Blanchard. Republican. N precinct-R. C. Rhea. Republican. O precinct-Cyrus Wyandt. Republican. P precinct-Henry Rogge. Democrat.
SEWARD CITY-TWO MEMBERS.
J. F. Goehner, Republican.
W. R. Dickison, Republican.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
ASSESSMENTS.
1865-Total number of acres deeded land, 4,728. This was all or about all speculator's land. The assessment on land that year was $18,867, or nearly $4 per acre; personal assessment, $10,880; total assessment, $29,747; total tax levy for the year, $423, or nearly thirteen mills on a dollar for all purposes. We have no means of ascertaining just how much of the tax of that year was collected.
We now skip over to the year of 1870, and find 33,670 acres on the list, and together with the personal property (they were not divided) amounts to $120, 160, or an increase of 28,942 acres of land, and a total increase of assessed value of $90,413 in five years, or an average of increase of more than $18,000 per year.
In 1885, we have assessed 275,203 acres of land, at $1,025,439, or about $3.72 per acre. This year town property begins to cut some figure, and we find it assessed at $92,091; eleven miles of rail- road, $67,480; personal, $412,234 ; making a total of $1,597,244.
In 1880, we find upon the assessment rolls 338,799 acres of land valued at $3.56 per acre, or $1,216,669 ; town property, $130,905; personal, $506,316 ; railroad (fifty-four miles), $183,447. A grand total of $2,037,337. In this year we find that 155,193 acres were improved, and the following acreage of crops reported : wheat, 53,- 877; corn, 67,294; oats, 6,824; meadow, we suppose it to be tame, but it is not so stated, 1,614; number fruit trees, 53,176 ; forest trees, 1,053,853.
1885 .- We find the lands assessed at $4.01 per acre, and total land assessment, $1,391,385; town property, $197,175; personal, $805,610 ; railroad, $270,437. Total, $2,664,607.
1887 .- Lands were assessed, $1,489,287 ; town property, $234,- 651; personal, $805,311; railroads, $271,965. Total, $2,801,214.
These figures are sufficient to show something of the growth of property for the twenty-two years, from 1865 to 1887, and that will answer our purpose without an overdose of tables, which are usually rather dry reading.
We find that there was paid to the state treasurer during the year 1887, as our share of state tax, the snug sum of $21,821.74, and that there was paid in collecting on principal and interest on school and other state lands the additional sum of $11,380.90. We are quite well satisfied with this showing.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CENSUS RETURNS.
YEAR.
POP.
1st returns for the county
1870
2,953
2d returns for the county.
1874
7,429
3d returns for the county, after grasshoppers
1875 6,601
4th returns for the county. 1876 6,875
5th returns for the county
1878 7,991
6th returns for the county
1880 11,095
7th and last returns for the county
1885 15,225
Estimated returns for the county
1887
18,000
PRECINCTS BY CENSUS OF 1885.
POPULATION.
NO. FARMS
FACTORIES.
A.
394
76
B.
571
112
C (including Staplehurst)
1,076
139
11
D ....
777
140
E (including Utica).
1,225
160
10
F (including Tamora)
882
190
G (including Seward)
2,728
169
61
H
1,095
155
I
690
131
J
776
149
K
672.
130
L
843
139
M
750
91
N
748.
134
O (including Milford)
1,462
146 15
P.
536
93
Totals
15,225
2,154
97
Or about one improved farm to every seven persons. Now de- ducting the population of the towns, viz., 3,567, and it leaves a county population of 11,658, making a farm for a little less than five and one-half population. It is fair to presume that the number of farms has increased ten per cent since this census was taken, and that would make the present number of farms at this time 2,369.
The manufacturing industries, as given in the census tables, include every class of manufacturing, such as mills, creameries, wagon
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
shops, blacksmithi shops, shoe shops, tinners' shops, etc. We are sorry that it seems impossible to obtain the amount of capital invested in manufacturing industries. The growth of such industries within the last year has been most remarkable. Of these we will treat fully in another place.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF WEALTH AND POPULATION.
In 1883 Seward had $2,346,480, and was No. 13 in the list of counties of our state.
1884, $2,513,184 and 12th.
1885, 2,664,607 " 9th.
1886, 2,722,020 "
8th.
POPULATION.
1870, Seward 2,953 and was 15th.
1874,
7,429
8th.
1875, 66 6,601
10th.
1876,
6,875
9th.
1878,
7,991 66 11th.
1880, 66
11,095
66
11th.
1885,
15,225
12th.
SEWARD COUNTY AS IT NOW IS.
As the chiming bells ring in the glad New Year of 1888, we find well-nigh twenty thousand just about as intelligent, and certainly just as happy, people as may be found anywhere in all our vast domain.
We are pleasantly situated in the state, and now have easy access to all the markets of the country. We have been especially blessed with an abundant harvest. Certainly "our barns are filled with plenty," and the needs of the world are such that we command a good price for our vast surplus. The general health of the people is most excellent. Prosperity, peace, and good-will reign in all our borders. The advance we have made in developing the wilderness into fruitful fields and blooming gardens, is truly wonderful.
We are now, while yet in our infancy, the happy possessors of nearly twenty-five hundred farms, as good in all essential elements of wealth as can be found in the north-western states, and that means
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
the wide, wide world. We generally have pleasant and comfortable homes, with nice yards and gardens. Most of us have orchards. We have beautiful and very luxuriant tame meadows. We have at least two thousand groves of planted timber, so dotting the plain that it almost looks like a timber country. We have excellent roads, as good as could be desired. We have excellent bridges generally, at convenient distances on all the streams. We have good drainage, and our soil is just good enough. An abundant supply of pure health-giving water. Three grand mill streams. A magnificent and ever-increasing school fund, with ninety organized school districts and ninety-five school-houses, thickly set like sparkling gems on hill- top and plain. Thirty Christian churches, shedding their beams of holy light among the people, and pointing them upward toward God and heaven. Three great lines of railway traversing the county in all directions and furnishing to the people twelve stations for shipping produce and receiving merchandise. Three telegraph and one tele- phone line running through the county, bringing all the people, as it were, right at the focus of intelligence and the general news of the world.
We have nine thriving villages, and one grand city within our borders. We have abundant water-power awaiting development. Although we have many fine mills, and one perhaps the best in the state, yet the utilizing of this precious gift is scarcely begun.
With the capital of our state almost at our door, and with all our varied resources of grains, grasses, vegetables, and fruits, of cattle and swine, with plenty of clear cold water to drink, why should we not have a happy New Year ?
We are a favored people. Ours is most truly a land of milk and honey. Our aggregate wealth surpasses ten millions of dollars, and is constantly growing with the years. Our towns and city are grow- ing and expanding, and are from month to month adding new conven- iences, comforts, and luxuries to lessen the burdens of all our people. Our progress is the wonder of the age, yet its progression will be accelerated from year to year. We have added during the year just passed very many valuable improvements, and we may fairly say that 1887 has marked a new epoch in our rapid advancement.
We see signs of new life, activity, and vigor, here, there, every- where within our borders.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
A new railway has been commenced and completed, cutting the county centrally from north-east to south-west, opening up a great new artery of traffic, and bringing in its train joy and gladness for thousands of our people, building up three new villages along the way and infusing new life and activity into the fourth, and adding new life to the city. Truly this was a grand achievement, and will pay many times its cost to the people. "B," Goehner, and Hunkins have been added to our list of villages.
Beaver Crossing has been thoroughly awakened from her Rip Van Winkle sleep of years and years, and now bids fair to become a city of no mean proportions.
Good depots, elevators, business houses, and numerous dwellings already grace the new towns, and in one at least (" B") a new church.
Milford shows new life and activity, valuable improvements and additions to the great grain elevators at the mill, a great livery barn that looks large for Omaha, the new sanitarium building, some pala- tial residences, and the final assurance of the new Industrial Home, a state institution ; and with the grade complete of a new railroad con- necting the town with Crete and the south, she has much to gladden the hearts of all her sons and daughters.
Pleasant Dale, while not pretentious, but modest, is fitly named. She is the " gem " of that beautiful valley, is constantly growing, and day by day becomes more beautiful.
Utica, always prosperous, is enjoying substantial prosperity, and to its other grand' achievements of the past has added a live newspaper.
Tamora continues the young " wonder" of the prairie. She never ceases to grow. She will never cease to prosper, adding to her acqui- sitions month after month churches, residences, schools, and new homes of taste and elegance.
Staplehurst, nestling in the valley of the upper Blue, while not growing rapidly, is in a prosperous condition, and has a strong vital- ity, and will always maintain her position as a splendid grain and stock market.
Germantown is coming to the front in splendid shape. Although having received a baptism of fire, which may prove a good and pre. cious gift as a cleanser and purifier, she has just completed a beauty of a school-house, and many new residences have been added to her number. She is prosperous and happy.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
The county is prosperous in all its parts. Many fields of new sod have kissed the bright plowshare during the past summer, tens of thousands of fruit trees planted, hundreds of miles of new pasture fences have been built, new bridges have spanned the streams, much of grace and beauty has been added, and all sections seem determined to push forward to grander results.
Seward county, the home of our choice, chosen when we were in the prime of our manhood's strength, the home where the most of our children were born, the home of pleasant memories, and where peace and plenty have generally rewarded our efforts, but where at times we have been overshadowed with dark clouds of want and sorrow, when first we set foot on thy soil we loved thee, and now when long years have passed and we are on the shadowy side of the hill of life we love thee still. God bless Seward county and all her people, is our humble prayer.
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113
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER VI.
HISTORY OF PRECINCTS FROM "A"* TO "P"-THEIR FIRST SETTLEMENTS-IN- CLUDING HISTORIC LETTERS FROM "A" BY E. W. OLNEY-FROM "B" BY F. M. TIMBLIN-FROM "G" BY JAMES A. BROWN-FROM "N" BY I. M. K. JOHNSON-FROM "P" BY MRS. H. W. PARKER, AND FROM "G" BY MRS. SARAH F. ANDERSON.
"B" PRECINCT.
The ten first settlers in "B" precinct, or town twelve north, range three east, were as follows :
John D. Hickman, in 1867; William, Joseph, Andrew, Henry, and Wesley Hickman, Thomas Poore, and Duncan Me Vaine, in 1868; John Quillon and F. M. Timblin, in 1869.
The first school-house (a sod house) was built in the fall of 1869, and the school was taught by F. M. Timblin during the following winter. The teacher was paid by subscription.
A literary club and debating society was formed, and the settlers often met for mental culture and entertainment. Herewith we ap- pend the instructive letter of F. M. Timblin, and also a communica- tion taken from the first number of the Atlas.
In 1887 the F., E. & M. V. railroad was built through the precinct, and a station located at " B," which is rapidly coming to the front as a business point. They now have a good depot, a grain elevator, a lumber yard, two stores, and several dwellings, and it bids fairly to become quite an important village. The new church is nearly com- plete, of which we give the history elsewhere.
The precinct has six miles of railroad, has on the census rolls 571 inhabitants with 112 farms, which rank among the best, and has five school-houses, all good frame buildings. The farmers are most uni- versally prosperous.
"C" PRECINCT
Was first settled by Frank Shields in the winter of 1863 and 1864, on what is known as the "Casey place." His settlement was not
* For the history of " A " precinct the reader is referred to the valuable letter of E. W. Olney, Esq.
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114
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
very permanent. Among the first to make permanent settlement were Wm. Reed, Judge John W. Shields, Geo. Reed, John A. Dur- land, and Frank E. Pitt. These all settled in 1864 and 1865, and were soon followed by Moses Mitchell, Walter Hoops, and two or three others whose names have escaped our memory. These early settlers all located by the river, for the sake of the timber and water. Settlements did not penetrate the high prairie much until 1868, when people came like a flock of pigeons.
"C" precinct is cut in two unequal parts by Blue river, and has excellent water-powers that are yet undeveloped. Lincoln creek also cuts the south-west corner of the precinct, and furnishes a splendid water-power, which has a fine mill at Marysville. This mill was built by Luke Agur in 1870, and has been lately rebuilt, enlarged, and much improved. It is now a first-class country flouring mill with all modern improvements.
Marysville is the nucleus of a large German settlement that extends far up and down the creek, and overreaches the boundaries of the precinct. They had located a store and church, with a school-house, soon after the founding of Seward. Wm. Hornburg, John Schoepp, and old Mr. Hartman's family were among the first to settle there. George C. McKay, John Gladwish, Father Archer and his family, and some others settled on the prairie between the river and Lincoln creek, and further up the river Thos. Corr and John Gillbanks set- tled in 1868. Marysville remains a trading point and post-office, and the Lutheran church makes it a prominent gathering place for the people.
Staplehurst was founded by George C. Mckay in the autumn of 1879, immediately after the completion of the A. & N. R. R. Mr. Mckay erected the first dwelling. T. W. Lowrey opened a grain house the same fall. Staplehurst grew slowly at first, but in 1882-83 it began to assume importance as a shipping and trading point. Messrs. Goehner & Co. laid out a large addition to the town, and many business houses sprang up immediately, including two first class elevators, a good hotel, a fine church, and a host of dwellings. They have two school-houses, and maintain a graded school. The place contains near three hundred inhabitants, and is organized as a village ; enjoys a good trade, and is prosperous.
"C" precinct has 1,076 inhabitants, with 139 farms and eleven
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
manufacturing industries, and six school-houses. Many of the farms are well improved with fine orchards and many good barns. The precinct has six miles of railroad.
T. C. Allen is responsible for the following story : Probably the first time a religious meeting was held old Father Worley, of Ulysses, was preaching in a sod school-house, and was talking of hell and heaven in an old-fashioned way, and had the congregation pretty well excited, when a serpent fell into the lap of one of the ladies, from the brush covering of the house. The audience were worse scared at the snake than at the preacher's hell, which he was so ably describing. For further particulars the reader is referred to the Rev. Father Worley.
" D" PRECINCT.
This is the north-western precinct of the county, and is principally Situated on the great divide between Blue river and Lincoln creek ; however, the latter creek runs through the southern portion of it. This precinct is a most excellent farming region, and is the home of many of our best and most successful farmers. It has no village within its borders, and only a short piece of railroad. The F., E. & M. V. just clips the corner of the precinct. The people are provided with five rival markets, viz .: Ulysses, Surprise, Poston, Utica, and Staplehurst; so that all portions of the precinct are handy to good market towns.
The census tables give the precinct 777 population, 140 farms, and 5 schools, all with good frame buildings. The post-office is named Orton, and is kept at a farm house, and the mail service is by star route.
The first settlement was made in 1867 by Mr. Wm. Jackman and Mr. Jesse Horton. We remember his moving to the county with a pair of oxen harnessed like horses. Mr. Wm. Reynolds settled in 1868. He it was who committed suicide in Utica some years ago while in a fit of temporary insanity. Also Mr. Johnson, a lame man, who bought the first harvester ever taken to the Lincoln creek set- tlement, in 1870, and O. C. Ragan, of the hawk story, came the same year; also Wm. Hornburg; and in 1871 the Richies-A. D., Wm., and his brother-with T. C. Allen and several others, made settlement on the high prairie, among whom were E. B. Hatch, who taught the first school in Jackman's dug-out in 1872.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
This portion of the county is finely developed, and we are free to say that it is our favorite precinct for farming purposes.
" E" PRECINCT.
Town eleven, range one east, is an unbroken plain without a running stream, and with the exception of a few marshes is wholly an excellent body of farm land.
M. C. Wright, Joseph Jones, Samuel Gleason, G. A. Derby, Mr. Greenwood, and H. M. Coleman were among the first to settle, in 1871, and were followed in 1872 by great numbers. About the time of the first settlement the state road was located from Seward to York and passed through this precinct.
In the early history of "E" there were no such incidents of thrilling interest as occurred on the great freight roads, and the few settlers on the prairie were not so isolated from the world, as Seward was quite a town when the settlement of this prairie began. Yet the first settlers saw some rough times, although they were free from Indian scares and not in any positive danger of starving, as older settlements were near at hand. The growth and development of the farmers' portion has been steady and kept full pace with other por- tions of the county, and now has fine improvements throughout. Finely improved farms, innumerable groves of planted timber and orchards, etc., etc.
Miss Clara Derby had the honor of teaching the first school in the precinct, in the summer of 1873. There are now outside of Utica three school-houses, and two others in which the people are interested.
Population, including Utica, 1,225, with 160 farms and ten manufacturing industries, and six miles of railroad. Their railroad station and village is the bright town of Utica, which was founded in the autumn of 1878. The first beginning and growth of Utica is related in another chapter, but its present status may be named here. The village contains between 600 and 700 people, and is third in population and business importance in the county, and has many live and energetic business men ; maintains a graded school with a fine structure, a large steam grist mill, an opera house-a commodious brick structure, three grain elevators, two lumber yards, two banks, quite a large number of mercantile establishments, several churches, a fair-sized hotel, two livery stables, numerous shops, and many
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
fine dwellings. The A. F. and A. M., the I. O. O. F., and G. A. R. each have themselves established orders. Flourishing Sabbath- schools are maintained by the churches, and taken all together Utica is a pleasant village and is fairly prosperous.
"F" PRECINCT.
Thomas Skillman made the first settlement on Sec. 13, in the spring of 1865. Joseph Roberts either pre-empted or homesteaded the land now owned by Rev. E. W. Johnson, in the fall of 1864, but failed to make settlement, and the place was homesteaded by Rev. Johnson in 1866. Mr. Roberts built or partly built a log cabin on his claim. George and Russell Rogers and their mother, Widow Rogers, each made settlement in the autumn of 1866. D. H. Figard, James Anderson, and Charles and Joseph Thurman each settled in the spring of 1867; also Abram Wallach. During the spring of 1868, a large number came, among whom were George Slonecker, Sam Stevenson, Aaron and Allen Anderson, Mr. Shockey, and Mr. Osborne.
The first school was taught in the summer of 1868, in the old log cabin on Rev. Johnson's place.
The first church organization was effected by Rev. Johnson, at the Slonecker school-house. It was the United Brethren church.
"F" precinct, according to the last census, has 882 inhabitants and 190 farms, being the banner precinct in that she has the largest number of farms of any precinct in the county. She has five school districts, each with a creditable building; has seven miles of railroad ; has one excellent mill stream, but it is not utilized in the precinct at present. Some years ago a mill was built by Mr. Jull, but it burned down and as yet has not been replaced. It has probably the largest belt of excellent wild meadow of any one of our precincts.
Tamora, " F " precinct's railroad station and village, was surveyed into lots in 1879, and during the fall of that year, Mr. J. W. Scott built a small grain house, put in scales, and bought grain, and Wm. Butler opened a small store. P. G. Tyler's family was the first to settle in the new town. There was very little growth until the sum- mer of 1882; however Morrisey Bros. built an elevator in 1881. T. W. Lowrey built his in 1882. The first school in the town was opened in the spring of 1884. The Presbyterian church was organ- ized in 1880, and they bought a little building and used until the new church was built, in 1883. This church was dedicated Nov. 9, 1883.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
The M. E. church was built in 1882. In 1886 the new two-story four-room school-house was built, at a cost of $2,100. A graded school is maintained, with two teachers, and is in a flourishing con- dition. There are now three elevators, a good depot, three general stores, one first-class hardware store, a fair-sized hotel, a good livery barn, two banks, a lumber yard, a drug store, and various shops, with a goodly number of cosy dwellings.
Tamora is a beautiful village with a good trade, and is a very de- sirable place in which to live. The people are universally intelligent and wide-awake. Have always been free from the contagion of saloons. They say that they never had any use for saloons, and they throw their surplus energy into beautifying their homes and maintaining their schools and churches. The village contains near three hundred inhabitants, and is surrounded by a beautiful and rich farming country. Anyone desiring a neat, quiet home, with excellent church and school facilities, where they are within a few minutes ride of the city, and where they are free from the influence of saloons, we cheerfully recommend Tamora as the place where they can find a genial home.
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