USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 14
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The year 1869 gave us quite a number of new citizens and business enterprises. Fred Lankins opened a new general store. Mr. Hum- phrey put in a stock of drugs, and Manley a small stock of hardware. Charles Beaty was born in the spring of 1870, and received the gift of a lot, as an inducement to others to be born. Joel Tishue opened his store on the east side of the square. Ewing built a hotel (St. Nicholas) one block south of the square. Beaty and Davis built a new store building (now the harness-shop of Mr. Landes). Several new resi- dences were also built, and the frame school-house. This year brought the Nebraska Atlas, and the Presbyterian church was built. During this summer Wm. C. Cloyd bought of Lewis Moffit the south half of the south half of the north-west quarter of section 21 (40 acres), and laid out Cloyd's Addition. Cloyd platted a great number of business lots on Jackson avenue, surrounded block 35 with business lots facing it, and made a struggle to change the business center to that point, which created strife and contention during that fall and following winter. It was Mr. Cloyd's intention to secure the location of the court-house on block 35, should we ever get the county seat. Mr. C. made a public sale in the fall of 1870, and a large number of lots were sold, at prices ranging from $15 to $30.
In the early spring of 1871 James H. Harris, "our one-eyed bene- factor," put in his appearance and played a well-devised scheme on the proprietors and citizens. We very much dislike to be obliged in this work to be compelled to say anything that would in the least reflect
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upon the life and character of the dead, and in this case we will say just as little as is possible for a historian to say and do justice to the subject. Mr. Harris was a brother of the land commissioner of the B. & M. R. R., and about this time our people were much scared on account of a project being sprung to make a railroad town just at the center of the county. With much show of plausibility, Mr. Harris represented himself to be a man of ample means, and that he was in position to make Seward or kill it; that he could bring the B. & M. company to Seward or keep it away ; and he worked upon the almost panic-stricken people until they were ready and anxious to do any- thing to gain his influence and co-operation. The result of the final negotiations was that Mr. Moffit deeded Mr. Harris an undivided one-half of the S. E. quarter of section 20, and also the undivided half of the forty acres north of Cloyd's addition, the only considera- tion being his influence and an agreement that he should make all public bequests necessary in all public enterprises, and be at all the expense of surveying the same into lots, but we understand that Mrs. Moffit did exact, and obtained, a silk dress pattern. But all this magnificent gift was not enough ; Mr. Roberts must be wrung into the scheme, but he came out pretty well. Mr. H. must have the south eighty of Mr. Roberts' homestead, or half interest in it. A compro- mise was effected by which the south half of the N. E. quarter of sec- tion 20 should in like manner be deeded to him and become a part of the new addition; but Mr. Roberts hardly ever drives a bad bargain, and he will only do it provided Mr. Harris will secure a deed in fee simple of eighty acres where Mr. Roberts lives, Mr. R. to pay only $300 for it. Well, this is all fixed up, but our " benefactor" is not yet satisfied; he wants Mr. Cloyd's interest at other people's expense, and it would take something over $600, and this he did not have, or if he had, he did not propose to use his own money while other peo- ple were so ready to do him any kindness. This money must be raised by popular subscription, but the people did not have money. Well, a good note would be taken. So a note of six hundred dollars was made and was presented to the business men, while the terrible B. & M. club was held over their heads, and about twenty block- heads, ourself included, signed it. The miserable sell was soon dis- covered, and there was some very unpretty words used and a great amount of self-abuse indulged in, but the note was in a Lincoln bank
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and must be paid, or a racket would ensue. When the note became due there was some stubbornness manifest, and a suit was commenced. A large number of the signers were not to be found, and others were financially played out; still there were enough yet to fight, but after comparing notes with one another, ten of us offered to pay $30 each, or $300 in full satisfaction, and accept as our pay the experience.
Well, the large new addition known as Harris, Moffit & Roberts' addition was laid out, which comprises two hundred and eighty acres of land. A great number of our present residents know how valua- ble that influence has been.
But one good result followed: confidence was restored for a little while, and we all were resting under the impression that we had done something very smart, when all of a sudden we woke up to find that Mr. H. had about the same influence with the B. & M. folks as any other dead-beat; that their road would not touch Seward county, much less Seward. But this much was settled: we had Harris on our hands, and the railroad would not kill us, for it was out of reach.
This year we had the acquisition of the Reporter, quite a goodly number of new buildings, many new people, and in the fall by sharp turns of the wrist we got the county seat. We were naturally gath- ering force and wealth as the county settled around us, but the pro- gress was slow. Our railroad bond battles occupied our time and thoughts pretty effectually during the first half of 1872, and not much was done while the railroad was an uncertainty.
[The bond fights are discussed in another place, and we pass them here.] When it became a certainty that we were to be blessed with a railroad there was a marked improvement.
We must now go back to 1870 and notice a calamity that befell the town and community. Mr. Boyes' mill had become so loaded with grain, principally grists, that the bottom fell out of it, and the con- munity were surprised one morning to see perhaps a thousand sacks of grain and all the machinery of the mill in the river. This was a sad blow for the owners and for the community, but immediate steps were taken to rebuild the mill, and during the fall everything was set to rights and at work.
Perhaps it is well here to describe the capacity of the water-power of the river here. Mr. Boyes informs us that with only eight-foot head they have fifty horse power, and a head of sixteen feet can easily
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be obtained, which would make its capacity immensely great. Mr. B. says Blue river is the most certain mill stream that he ever saw.
During the autumn of 1872 there were numerous accessions to our business houses, and great numbers of residences were also added. W. H. Tuttle built a new hotel on the corner of Seward and 8th streets (Park House); many new workshops of various kinds were opened in anticipation of the new business when the cars should ar- rive. A new life was infused into the community, everybody's step was more elastic, all classes of people wore smiles on their faces, prop- erty advanced rapidly in value and was ready sale. We were happy in the anticipation of a glorious future.
Just as the sun began to shine out brightly in the early spring of J873, we were gladdened by the whistle of the locomotive. "Oh! was sound ever so sweet !" Inasmuch as the situation was discussed in a former chapter we will only add points not mentioned there. We rejoiced that we had a railroad, and it was a great blessing to us, although it cost us a large sum of money, yet it was worth much more to us than the cost. In other words, we made a good bargain, and yet our freight and passenger tariffs were scandalously high. The fare to Lincoln was $1.25, and freight on wheat, our staple pro- duct, was fifty-four cents per hundred pounds in car lots to Chicago, and all other rates correspondingly high.
The depot being placed at the foot of the hill, near Boyes' mill, Mr. Boyes thought wise to lay out what should properly have been an addition to Seward, but it was platted as an independent town and named South Seward, and what was still more strange, a margin was left between the new town and the old of sixty feet, which has been known as the " dead line." There were some other peculiarities about the new town. The proprietor carefully left his mill and his own residence outside of the platted town. There was great energy displayed on the part of the proprietor and the new-comers to over- shadow the old village. Several grain houses were erected, a mam- moth lumber yard (Mohawk) was opened, and a large hotel erected by Geo. Boyes; also great numbers of dwellings; and it having the depot, mill, grain houses, and the great lumber yard, they had some show to rival Seward, but their efforts all proved abortive. Seward was too firmly planted and deep rooted to be overshadowed by a sprout of a summer's growth. South Seward, however, was very
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tenacious of life, and although her greatness (what she had) and all her expectations were gone, yet she maintained her separate organiza- tion for many years, and never united her destinies with the city until May 30th, 1885, when she became attached, "dead-line" and all, to the city, and henceforth she is a part of our city.
Having noted in the " Reminiscences" the more important events in the growth and advancement, and as there are special chapters on the more noteworthy institutions of the city, and on the city govern- ment, which will comprise as much of interest as it would be possible to crowd into the limited space, we refer the reader to the interesting chapters furnished by able pens of the history of our churches, schools, G. A. R. post, Odd Fellows, and Masons; also chapters on post-office, agricultural society, etc., etc., and finally the closing chap- ter on Seward as we see it January 1, 1888.
INCORPORATION OF SEWARD AS A VILLAGE
Occurred in the first days of April, 1870. (The records are con- flicting: in one place they say April 2d, and in another they say April 5th.) The county commissioners passed an order as the statute provides declaring the village incorporated, and Dr. L. Walker, F. F. Larkins, W. R. Davis, Geo. Crumb, and Sam Manly were ap- pointed trustees, and O. T. B. Williams, attorney for the corporation.
June 5, 1871, we find S. E. Ewing and Wm. Olmstead on the board, but can find no record of their election. We also find W. B. Thorpe, clerk, L. Parish, marshal, H. A. Lewis, treasurer, H. P. Kennard, assessor, and Thomas Darnall, attorney. Street commis- sioner, E. W. Clinton.
May 10, 1872, L. G. Johns, W. H. Tuttle, V. Daniels, Sam Ste- venson, and H. Diers took the oath of office as trustees, and at their first meeting O. T. B. Williams was elected clerk, Geo. Whiting, marshal, and I. B. Compton, fire warden. O. T. B. Williams was also elected assessor.
March 20, 1873, the council voted an appropriation of fifty dollars for a free dinner to a party of Lincoln excursionists.
May 5, 1873, Wm. Hays, Vinal Daniels, T. L. Norval, Herman Diers, and Sam Stevenson were elected trustees. Sam Stevenson was elected chairman of the board on the tenth ballot; L. G. Johns, treasurer, O. T. B. Williams, clerk. J. W. McCabe was elected marshal.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
September 22, 1873, R. S. Norval took the census of the town, and his returns show a population of five hundred and seventy-five.
September 24, 1873, ordinance No. 28, organizing Seward as a city of the second class, was offered by T. L. Norval and adopted, and an election was ordered for October 18, 1873, for city officers. At said election A. Castle was elected mayor, W. R. Davis, police judge, J. W. McCabe, marshal, T. L. Norval, clerk, V. Daniels, city engineer, and W. B. Thorpe, treasurer. Thos. Graham and A. J. Combs, councilmen in 1st ward, and Wm. Leese and J. R. Paul in the 2d ward.
The city council passed their first ordinance January 2, 1874, pro- viding for a poll tax.
Feb. 17th, a resolution of inquiry in regard to protection from fire was passed, in which they required of J. N. Edwards that he furnish information about the cost of a dozen rubber buckets, 48 feet of ladder, and some other tools, etc.
April 7, 1874, the following persons were elected city officers: Thos. Graham, mayor; T. J. Hamilton, police judge; S. H. Marshall, city engineer; N. C. Rogers, clerk; Win. Wright, marshal; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; Sam Stevenson and Joel Tishue, councilmen in 1st ward; J. M. Strong and Ed. McIntyre, in the 2d ward.
Nov. 23d, city council voted to donate their salary to the city on account of hard times.
Recapitulation of the financial condition of the city since it was incorporated :
Warrants drawn to date. $1387 52
Amount warrants canceled $674 54
712 98
Amount outstanding to balance
Delinquent tax of 1873. 122 61
Delinquent tax list of 1874
559 53
Total.
682 14
Amount in treasury.
106 24
$788 38
Total resources.
Dated March 30, 1875.
At the April election of 1875 the following persons were elected to fill the various offices: Ed. McIntyre, mayor; S. B. Mills, judge; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; T. L. Norval, clerk; J. W. Gladwish,
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
marshal; R. S. Norval and H. W. Hagaman, councilmen in 1st ward ; and H. W. Ragan and J. F. Goehner, councilmen for 2d ward.
During 1875 the grades of the principal streets were established.
April 8, 1876, the following persons were declared elected city officers : I. B. Sarter, mayor; Thos. Osborne, marshal; F. H. New- ton, clerk; William Leese, police judge; E. A. Polly, city engineer ; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; James Reed, councilman for 1st ward; J. F. Goehner, councilman for 2d ward.
Amount of taxes, including licenses and fines, during 1876, $3,196.39.
April, 1877, E. McIntyre was again elected mayor; J. D. Ed- wards, clerk; police judge, O. T. B. Williams; treasurer, A. J. Cal- lender; marshal, Wm. Ashton; street commissioner, R. McCrosson ; councilmen, N. C. Rogers and H. W. Ragan.
And in 1878, T. L. Norval, mayor; clerk, J. D. Edwards; Councilmen, John Kribbler, S. W. Long, and I. B. Sarter; treasurer, L. G. Johns; police judge, L. W. Hart.
In 1879, mayor, E. K. Dunbaugh; police judge, J. D. Edwards ; clerk, J. L. McPheely; treasurer, W. R. Herrick; councilmen, J. S. Henderson and T. E. Saunders.
In 1880, C. W. Barckley, mayor; J. D. Edwards, clerk; L. G. Johns, treasurer; police judge, T. L. McClean; councilmen, S. R. Douglass, L. Walker, R. R. Shick, and J. G. Berdrow.
In 1881, W. O. Whitcomb, mayor; E. A. Polly, clerk; police judge, J. L. McPheely; treasurer, T. E. Sanders; councilmen, W. E. Chapin, J. Tishue, and Herman Diers.
In 1882, W. O. Whitcomb, mayor; T. E. Sanders, clerk ; treas- urer, Wm. Leese; councilmen, J. S. Henderson and R. E. Dunphy.
In 1883, Whitcomb was for the third time elected mayor; clerk, A. J. Callender ; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; councilmen, John Mul- finger and John Zimmerer.
In 1884, mayor, W. R. Davis; clerk, C. S. Alling; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; police judge, Frank P. Pingree; councilmen, Samuel Welch and T. E. Sanders.
In 1885, O. C. Reynolds, mayor; clerk, C. W. Bain; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; police judge, Louis Stahl; councilmen, G. A. Mer- riam and J. C. Mulfinger.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
In 1886, Ed. McIntyre, mayor; clerk, C. W. Bain; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; police judge, I. D. Neihardt; councilmen, J. H. Betzer and Peter Goehner.
In 1887, Ed. McIntyre, mayor; clerk, G. F. Dickman; police judge, I. D. Neihardt; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; councilmen, Sam- uel Pence and J. C. Mulfinger.
POST-OFFICE AND MAIL FACILITIES THROUGH THE YEARS OF SEWARD'S LIFE.
In 1864, 1865, and 1866, the settlers of this vicinity got their mail in a sort of hap hazard way. Some of it was directed to Camden, some to Lancaster, and some to Nebraska City, and perhaps some to Plattsmouth; and it was the custom for every person visiting any of the offices to enquire for all the neighborhood.
In the winter of 1866-67 the citizens met and consulted about get- ting a post-office. It was urged that Lewis Moffitt ought to take the office, as he lived on the prospective town site, but he declined the honor, and the settlement was nonplussed and did not know just what to do.
During that winter the writer took it into his head that he would try and find a solution to the question, and wrote to our delegate in congress (John Taffe) and begged him to go over to the department and secure the appointment of Lewis Moffit as postmaster for Sew- ard, Neb., which he immediately proceeded to do, and all of a sudden Mr. Moffitt received his appointment. He felt sold, but it would not do to back square out, so he qualified and accepted the inevitable; and when he fully realized the munificent salary of $1 per month or twelve dollars year he became fully reconciled. Now we had a post-office, but no mail route. Government allowed two dollars per quarter for mail service, but men were not quite so anxious for place then as now, and we had to hold out other and better inducements. So we made up a pony purse sufficient to pay one dollar and fifty cents per week, and hired E. L. Clark, a one-armed soldier, to make the trip once a week to Camden at the freight road. Mr. Clark made his trips on foot and carried the mail in an old haversack, so we were pretty well supplied with mail facilities, but it cost many of us pretty dearly. Mr. Moffitt retained the office until July, 1868, when he resigned his lucrative trust to W. R. Davis. Mr. Davis
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
held the office in the store of Beaty and Davis. His salary was twelve dollars per year at first, but under fine manipulation an ad- vance to twenty-five dollars was soon secured. At that time the pay of the postmaster was gauged by the amount of postage sold, and friend Davis urged everbody to take just as many postage stamps as possible in the way of change, etc. He had to make a good showing and he did. Postage stamps were good property and everybody had plenty of them.
Our first government mail route was established in July, 1869, be- tween here and Lincoln, via the Oak Groves. At first it was a weakly concern, and within the following year it became a semi- weekly, and finally a tri-weekly. Some said it was tri-weekly be- cause they tried every week to get mail through but frequently failed. Mr. Davis retained the office until the spring of 1871, when he re- signed and E. L. Clark secured the appointment. The salary had advanced to fifty dollars per year under Mr. Davis' administration, and his last quarter had shown such an increase of business that the salary was raised to $240 per year, and in 1872 it was further ad- vanced to $320. L. G. Johns was appointed in January, 1873, and held the office until January, 1877. His salary was increased by de- grees until it reached $1,300 per annum and $240 per year for clerk hire. When he took possession there was one daily mail from Lin- coln. During 1873 railroad mail service was introduced. There were established during his administration star routes as follows: To York, tri-weekly; Crete to Columbus, tri-weekly ; Orton and Stroms- burg, semi-weekly; Seward and Dorchester, tri-weekly.
Money order office was established in July, 1872. The largest money order business was done in 1873, prior to the opening of our first bank.
When Mr. Johns took possession the fixtures of the office consisted of a desk and a case of pigeon-holes worth about $20. He placed about $300 worth of fixtures in the office.
Redford received his appointment in January, 1877, and held the place about four years, when Chas. Vanpelt received the appoint- ment, in 1881. During Mr. V.'s tenure the Morris keyless lock was introduced into the office. During his term the salary was at the maximum, or $1,700 per annum, where it remains to the present.
There were two semi-weekly star routes until about 1884, and there were during his whole term four daily mails by rail.
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John Kittle received his appointment July 1, 1885. Star routes all closed. Six daily mails, and arrangements nearly perfected for two more. Present value of fixtures, about $2,000, having just put in a new and most complete outfit of improved Morris lock boxes, which is said to be one of the finest in the West. Box rent now amounts to $170 per quarter. Money order business is about $2,000 per quarter.
Thus we have endeavored to trace as nearly as possible, step by step, our post-office business and mail service, through all its stages from the beginning of our settlement here until the present.
We cannot close this chapter without a word in regard to other post-offices in the county.
The first office was established at the old Camden bridge, just by the south line of the county and at the forks of the river, at the old ranch, in 1863.
We now have eleven offices, viz. : Seward, Milford, Pleasant Dale, Ruby, Germantown, Tamora, Utica, Staplehurst, Orton, Marysville, Beaver Crossing, and three new offices that will come into existence ere this will be read, viz .: "B," Goehner, and Hunkins, each on the F., E. & M. V. road.
FIRST SABBATH-SCHOOL IN SEWARD.
In the month of May, 1866, a union Sabbath-school was organized at the log cabin of Lewis Moffitt. The families engaged in the en- terprise were Grandfather Imlay's, Rev. E. L. Clark's, R. T. Gale's, Wm. Imlay's, Mr. Moffitt's, and W. W. Cox's. We believe this was the first Sabbath-school between Lancaster (Lincoln) and Denver. The school was a success and produced excellent results. Previous to this, meetings for Bible reading had been held at the different houses in the neighborhood.
There are now in the county about thirty Sabbath-schools in flour- ishing condition. Most of them have good libraries and nearly all of them maintain their schools all the year.
TEMPERANCE WORK.
Temperance work commenced at a very early day in the history of Seward county. As early as 1869 a lodge of Good Templars was organized in the old school-house, and flourished for a number of
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
years, exerting a wide and salutary influence, especially on the younger people. We remember that many people were regular at- tendants who lived from seven to ten miles distant. About the same date there was a lodge instituted at Milford. In 1874 a lodge of Sons of Temperance was started and did good work, which was fol- lowed by another Good Templars' lodge.
In 1874 the women's crusade was made, and created a wide inter- est. Many of the best Christian ladies of the city united in their efforts to suppress the liquor traffic, by visiting daily the saloons and earnestly pleading with the saloon-keepers and their customers. These ladies would fervently pray with these abandoned men, and implore them in the name of their divine Master to abandon their ungodly ways, and lead better lives. These efforts were persevered in for about six weeks, and exerted a good influence. It was sowing good seed, and it did not all fall on stony places, but some found lodgment in good ground and is bringing forth good fruit.
In 1872, after a night's carousal on the part of a number of men, they were suddenly awakened by a sense of their own shame, and they agreed with one another that that night's debauch should be- their last, and they bound themselves by a most solemn oath, which was attested by an officer with his official signature, in which they pledged not only their sacred honor but their solemn oath that they would forever abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as a bey- erage. This same document emerged from that place the next morn- ing to be signed by the people in sympathy with the movement, and was signed by a large number of people, and we are happy to say that we believe that many have sacredly kept that oath, and it hap- pily proved to be a good turn in the lives of some who may be counted among our best citizens. It is our pleasure to have the cus- tody of that old document.
The Good Templars did a noble work for many years, and in 1876 the Temple of Honor was instituted, and created a sensation, and was the means of much good for a year or more. Internal dissensions. caused its early demise and cut short a life that promised valuable service in the temperance work of the community. Very many were rescued and many saved from falling by the Temple of Honor. Other attempts were made later to revive the Temple and rebuild its broken walls, but a deep-seated prejudice so filled the minds of the
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people that the new organization failed to accomplish its purpose. A Red Ribbon club was organized by the lamented John B. Finch, in 1879, and secured a very large membership, and was a power in Sew- ard for a year or more. The Good Templars' lodge was again organ- ized and flourished for a year, and was followed by the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Young Women's Christian Tem- perance Union. Of these the reader will learn more from a chapter devoted to their work, furnished by their order, as their organization is yet a working force. A Prohibition club was organized about 1883, and a Reform club was organized by C. J. Holt in 1885. The Reform club work is remembered by our people for grand work and grand results. They secured columns in the city papers and pub- lished many productions on different phases of temperance work, and together with the lectures and discussions at their weekly meetings were instrumental in doing much good.
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