USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 19
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The post is named in honor of Capt. Winslow, commander of the U. S. ship Kearsage, that captured and sunk the famous rebel cruiser, Alabama. At the time of her capture the Alabama had taken refuge in the port of Cherbourg, France, and was ordered to leave by the French government. As soon as she reached the high seas, Capt. Winslow pursued her, and an engagement took place which resulted in her capture and destruction.
As Milford is the acknowledged watering place, it was thought appropriate to give the post the name of some hero of the navy.
The following commanders have presided over its deliberations :
J. H. Culver, two terms ; G. M. Couffer, one term; J. H. David- son, one term ; D. C. Work, one term ; J. A. Miller, one term; A. Hiller, one term; Dr. A. K. Seip, now in command. The post is in a flourishing condition.
MAJ. KEENAN POST NO. 137, G. A. R.,
Department of Nebraska, was instituted at Beaver Crossing, April 5, 1883, by Commander D. C. Work, Deputy, the following old soldiers
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
and comrades having petitioned the Department Commander for a char- ter, which had been duly granted : P. H. Steele, J. L. S. Jackson, C. H. Reed, W. P. Ostrander, T. J. McQuillan, J. C. Boicourt, Alonzo Coon, J. W. Draper, Thos. Tydyman, Jas. Irrom, Daniel Nelson, T. J. Foster, W. H. Mygatt, O. Culver, E. Atwater, J. M. Hunter, Wm. Collier, J. F. Sloan, J. T. Pinkerton, J. G. Burkett, E. D. Blanch- ard, J. T. Gibbs, J. H. Waterman, and F. Tremper.
The following comrades were elected and installed as officers of the post at the next regular meeting, held on April 10, 1883, by muster- ing officer J. H. Culver: Commander, P. H. Steele; Sen. Vice Commander, E. Atwater; Jun. Vice Commander, J. L. S. Jackson ; Adjutant, C. F. Reed; Quartermaster, T. J. Foster; Surgeon, D. Nelson ; Chaplain, J. T. Pinkerton; Officer of the Day, J. C. Boicourt; Officer of the Guard, Wm. Collier; Sergeant Major, T. J. McQuillan ; Quartermaster's Sergeant, W. P. Ostrander.
The name Keenan was adopted in honor of the brave major who gave his life for his country.
The post continued to prosper and soon numbered thirty-four mem- bers, and afterwards increased to thirty-eight. Many of the charter members have removed to other localities, so that now but twenty members are upon the rolls. Various causes have helped to reduce the membership. The present condition of the post is flourishing, and it expects to continue the organization until the last comrade has responded to the last roll call, and that grim mustering out officer, death, has made his last demand upon our number.
The present officers are as follows: Commander, E. Atwater; Sen. Vice Commander, R. Jones; Jun. Vice Commander, M. Gibbs; Quar- termaster, J. T. Gibbs; Adjutant, F. Tremper; Surgeon, Win. Rum- sey; Chaplain, George Foster; Officer of the Day, W. P. Ostrander; Officer of the Guard, O. Culver; Sergeant Major, G. W. Winand.
MASONIC FRATERNITY.
Oliver Lodge No. 38, A. F. and A. M., was organized under dis- pensation July 29, 1871, by the following members, to-wit: C. J. Richmond, W. H. Tuttle, J. W. Dupin, Samuel Manley, A. W. Sperry, L. W. Manning, Thos. Corr, H. S. Faucett.
In September, 1872, it seems there was a new dispensation or a re- newal of the first granted to the following members: Thos. Corr, 14
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
William Hayes, H. C. Page, T. L. Norval, L. G. Johns, S. D. Paddock, Samuel Manley, Wm. Leese, John Helms, James Hackney, J. W. Dupin, and W. H. Tuttle.
June 18, 1873, a charter was granted, which bears the following names of members and officers: William Leese, W. M .; T. L. Nor- val, S. W .; Aurelius Roberts, J. W .; J. W. Shields, Treasurer; J. W. Dupin, Secretary; Thomas Corr, Nathan Clough, O. P. Cope, M. Dunigan, James Hackney, Wmn. Hayes, L. G. Johns, J. C. Langton, Horace Lester, Samuel Manley, L. W. Manning, Geo. Miller, S. D. Paddock, H. C. Page, C. J. Richmond, Madison Rogers, Robert Rowbottom, W. T. Shields, I. B. Sorter, Sam. Stevenson, J. C. Sullivan, Joel Tishue, A. B. Sutton, Joseph Whitson, and O. T. B. Williams. The first Worshipful Master was G. J. Richmond; first Sen. Warden, W. H. Tuttle; first Jun. Warden, Sam. Manley.
The lodge at this writing has 90 members, and is in good financial condition. The present officers are: Wm. M. Rosborough, W. M .; F. G. Simmons, S. W .; A. J. Williams, J. W .; S. D. Atkins, S. D .; A. D. Hicks, J. D .; W. B. Barrett, Treas .; W. H. Walker, Sec'y ; L. A. Weldon, Tyler. The order has decided to build a fine hall this year, and has chosen the lots just north of the Windsor house, on the corner of Main and Sixth streets.
UTICA LODGE NO. 95, A. F. AND A. M.
On the 14th day of July, 1882, a dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge of Nebraska to Joseph Jones, E. J. Porter, Thomas E. Standard, Stephen H. Hobbie, Lyman Calder, Robert Marler, Samuel H. Beaver, James E. Hibbard, Joseph J. Pounder, David M. Roland, George A. Verbach, and Edmund L. Blanchard, all Free and Ac- cepted Masons, to assemble as a lodge of Free Masons at Utica, Neb. Having passed the proper term of probation, a charter was granted on the 19th day of June, 1883, to the above-mentioned petitioners, together with the following members: Thomas C. Allen, Andrew Austine, John C. Bicourt, Cyrus Black, Thomas Black, Thomas J. Brant, William Dingman, Ira Lapham, James E. Murphy, Calvin E. Phinney, Presley Pindell, and Harvey Robinson. They were organ- ized as a regular and constitutional lodge of Master Masons by the name of Utica Lodge No. 96, with the following officers: Joseph Jones, W. M .; E. J. Porter, S. W .; Lyman Calder, J. W .; Samuel
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
H. Beaver, Sec .; Robt. Marler, Treas .; Stephen H. Hobbie, S. D .; James E. Hibbard, J. D .; Thomas E. Standard, Tyler; Joseph J. Pounder and Edmund L. Blanchard, Stewards.
The lodge thus organized steadily progressed under a fair state of prosperity until the year 1888. The lodge lost one-John Davies --- by death April, 1887, and some have been demitted and moved to other parts of the country, leaving a present membership numbering forty-six (46) January, 1888. The present office bearers are as fol- lows ; Joseph Jones, Master; Charles H. Wray, S. W .; Daniel J. Hartrum, J. W .; James E. Hibbard, Treasurer ; Thomas J. Brant, Secretary ; John W. Runyan, S. D .; Frank M. Cougill, J. D .; Darius D. Potter, S. S .; James E. Murphy, J. S .; Daniel P. Sherwood, Tyler.
UTICA LODGE NO. 101, I. O. O. F.
Instituted July 10, 1882, at Utica, Neb., by J. T. Hedrick, G. M. of G. L. of the state of Nebraska, assisted by T. C. Evans, D. G. M., A. T. Rice, V. G. M., J. J. Brown, R. S., C. J. Elkart, G. G., and J. C. McCord, G. C.
The charter members were: G. A. Derby, Joseph Kimmell, E. L. Blanchard, David Doan, E. C. Whitnah, John G. Allison, John A. Boon, C. C. Berrard, Wm. J. Derimer, and Geo. Goodbrod.
After the organization the lodge received the petition of J. R. Toman and Julian E. Phinney, who were initiated as members and received all the degrees and became full members, constituting a lodge of twelve (12) members to start with.
The next business was the election of officers, and resulted as fol- lows: J. A. Boon, N. G .; G. A. Derby, V. G .; J. R. Toman, Sec .; Geo. Goodbrod, Treas., who were duly installed into their several offices by Grand Master J. T. Hedrick.
When the lodge was organized they, together with the Masonic lodge, had built a hall 24x48 ft., but they were in debt for the larger portion of it. Since their organization they have taken in some twenty new members and had withdrawn by card some ten members, leaving present membership twenty-two. They have paid for the hall and are clear of debt, and now have $233 in the treasury.
The present officers of the lodge are: R. S. Nier, N. G .; Geo. Goodbrod, V. G .; W. H. DeBolt, Sec .; and G. A. Derby, Treas. Officers elected for the ensuing year: J. A. Boon, N. G .; Chas.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Humberger, V. G .; R. S. Nier, Sec .; G. A. Derby, Treas .; G. A. Derby, Dist. Dept.
While it is a fact that there has been a lukewarm indifference in the interest and attendance at the lodge for the past six months, the lodge is now again in a prosperous condition.
SEWARD LODGE NO. 26, I. O. O. F.
The Odd Fellows of Seward became an organized body May 30, 1871, having L. G. Johns, W. R. Davis, T. D. Green, J. H. Ander- son, D. H. Figard, Lewis Anderson, J. W. Shields, and J. K. Mc- Gavren as charter members, and L. G. Johns, N. G., D. H. Figard, V. G., J. H. Anderson, Secretary, and T. D. Green, Treasurer, as its first officers; Samuel Pence was the first initiated candidate. The lodge is now progressing rapidly, and holds a membership of 60; a fine hall was built by this order in 1886, which is used by nearly all the other secret societies for their meetings. The order is in a good condition, and has a degree staff which vastly improves the rendition of its work. The present officers are : Noble Grand, J. S. Kittle ; Vice G., E. P. Smith ; Secretary, Walter A. Leese; Treasurer Sam- uel Pence.
Milford Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., was the first organized body in Seward county.
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
In April, 1884, an auxiliary branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized in Seward, with thirteen members. President, Mrs. C. M. Woodward; Vice Pres., Mrs. T. L. Sexton ; Rec. Sec., Mrs. E. B. Ireland; Cor. Sec., Mrs. Ada Van Pelt.
Through the efforts of this society, in 1886 a Y. W. C. T. U. was organized, a Band of Hope, and also a Reform Club. Present mem- bership, 25. The society has done much good work in the temperance field and in charitable works.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
Seward Lodge No. 16, A. O. U. W., was instituted on September 27, 1883, by T. A. Forman, Deputy Grand Master Workman. The organization started with twenty-five charter members, as follows: J. S. Leonhardt, L. M. Smith, R. S. Norval, C. N. Emilton, W.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
A. Schell, E. A. Polley, C. M. Hovey, W. N. Walker, Louis Stahl, W. J. Taylor, J. R. Erfort, Louis Leibrock, Henry Petri, Bernhardt Kohn, V. Miner, S. D. Atkins, A. J. Senter, F. G. Simmons, Wm. Clemmons, E. H. Fletcher, Wm. Schultz, C. Grabenstein, H. Hartwick, H. M. Waring, and W. O. Whitcomb. Henry Hartwick was the first Master Workman, and Smith D. Atkins was the first Recorder. The Master Workmen since that time have been E. A. Polley, C. N. Emilton, F. G. Simmons, and J. F. Stevens.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen is a fraternal organization, and combines with the usual features of such organizations a system of protection for the families of its members, which has made it very popular. The order was instituted about seventeen years ago, in Pennsylvania, John J. Upchurch being the man who conceived the idea and put it into operation. The order rapidly spread, and its founder lived to see it carried into every part of the United States, as well as into Canada.
At the time Seward Lodge was instituted, the state of Nebraska was under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. In 1886 Nebraska organized a Grand Lodge of her own, and since that time has had a separate jurisdiction. The order in Nebraska has grown more rapidly since then than ever before, and the Lodge of this city has kept pace with the general growth in the state. It has now over eighty members in good standing, and is in a very prosperous and healthy condition. It has lost no members by death since its or- ganization, having been particularly fortunate in this respect. Among its members are many of the best business men of the city. It may certainly be considered an element of good in the community, and something of which the city of Seward may be proud.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER XII.
LANCASTER COUNTY-ITS GROWTH AND PROGRESS SINCE THE LOCATION OF THE STATE CAPITAL WITHIN ITS BOUNDS IN 1867-STATE INSTITUTIONS-EDUCA- TIONAL INSTITUTIONS-RAILROADS-BUSINESS ENTERPRISES-ORGANIZATION AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
BY HON. C. H. GERE.
The author of this work, who pictures with so much vividness the primitive struggles of the early settlers of Lancaster county, says that it is a very difficult matter for him to realize, when he traverses the scenes of these personal experiences, that all the changes wrought by the enterprise of the people and the rapid settlement of this section of the state have been witnessed in less than a generation, and that the young men who commenced the improvement of the valley of the Salt are still in the vigor of manhood. Certainly the progress of Nebraska, as exemplified in the brief history of Lancaster county, is upon the whole the most marvelous that has been seen in this country since its original settlement. From that August day in 1867, when its central point and county seat was selected by the commissioners for the site of the state capital, the growth of Lancaster has been phenomenal.
That there was something in her geographical position that tended to the metropolitan, is proven by the fact that Lincoln has made far more than the customary progress of a country town selected from its central location and convenience of access as the seat of a state government. In twenty years she has outstripped the large majority of the capitals of the older states, stands to-day with a population of 45,000, one of the important commercial centers of the Northwest, and is beginning to lay the foundations of important and extensive manufacturing enterprises.
The act that made Lincoln a "fiat city," located the state house within her limits, and provided that it should be built from the pro- ceeds of the sale of the lots in the odd numbered blocks, provided also that reservations should be made in and around the " permanent
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capital." from the state lands or lots of sites for a state university, an insane hospital, and a penitentiary.
The state house and the university reservations consisted of four blocks each, containing about twelve acres situated on two of the most prominent elevations within the old city limits, and about a mile apart as the streets run. The university was placed near the north- east corner of the original plot, and the state house toward the south- west corner. The two other prominent elevations were marked with the sites of the "market square " now the Federal reservation for a court-house and post-office building, and by the court-house reserva- tion, also one block, on which the county is about to erect a fine county building. In this way the commissioners desired to scatter the concentrating points for the future city and prevent the tendency to huddle all the business in one small neighborhood. This distribu- tion of centers was an assistance in the lot sales, for no one could definitely say just where the business of Lincoln would concentrate, and there was a larger latitude for private judgment and good guess work in the selection of lots on which to make their speculative ventures.
As was the case in the infancy of Washington City, the distribu- tion of these points gave the town a very straggling and ragged ap- pearance for several years, but at present the wisdom of the commis- sioners is apparent. There is really no convenience in the huddling together of all the public buildings in a large city.
The wing of the State House, provided for by the act of location, to be built out of the moneys received from the first lot sales, was fin- ished and ready for occupany by the time the legislature of January, 1869, gathered for its session. That legislature proceeded to organize the University of Nebraska, and passed a bill providing for the erec- tion of the first university building, which now stands in the center of the campus. It also provided for the building of the first insane hospital, which stood on the site of the present immense building, but was destroyed by an incendiary fire, soon after its occupation.
The same legislature, in an extra session, passed an act for the commencing work on a penitentiary building. The commissioners had selected eighty acres of land on a prominent elevation for the site of the hospital, about two miles from the center of the city south- west, and the penitentiary was given a forty-acre tract south of the
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
city three miles away. Over a million dollars have been expended in enlarging the first erections on these sites, and the city has extended its additions until they reach to the very edge of these two state reservations.
A few years later an association of ladies, with their headquarters at Lincoln, but with auxiliary branches in nearly every county in the state, organized a charity known as " The Home of the Friendless," the object being to care for helpless women and children stranded by the misfortunes or the vices of those who should be their guardians. A building was erected by private subscription, and for a time the institution did much in a quiet way to relieve distress among these classes. The legislature then came to the assistance of the ladies, appropriated liberal sums for the enlargement and the extension of the buildings, which are situated in the southern part of the city, and paid regular salaries to the matrons and assistants. The Home now shelters an average of a hundred women and children, keeping the latter under its wing until suitable provision can be made for them by adoption or they can go out to learn some trade or useful occupation.
The first university building was constructed of brick, at a cost of $139,000, was completed in 1871, and in September of that year the board of regents inducted a chancellor and faculty into possession of the premises, and the university commenced its great work. It has made steady progress in the number of its faculty, instructors, and students, keeping time to the march of the great commonwealth, and at present about three hundred students are enrolled, of whom over two hundred are members of the regular college classes, the number of the preparatory students, in comparison with the university students, constantly diminishing as the high schools in the state are attaining sufficient numbers and effectiveness to prepare students for the freshman class in the university.
At the time of its organization the State Agricultural or In- dustrial College was attached to it as one of the group of colleges. In course of time a farm of three hundred and twenty acres was acquired by the regents as an experiment station and a working place for such students of agriculture as desired to obtain practical knowl- edge and at the same time earn sufficient in odd hours to pay their expenses in whole or in part. The original improvements of the farm have been added to for the accommodation of the station, and
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
the instructor in agriculture resides there. The station is about two miles east of the original site, but is now surrounded by " additions " and the city actually extends to its gates.
A recent act of congress appropriated $15,000 per annum to each state experiment station connected with the state agricultural or industrial college, and the regents, by immediately complying with the conditions of the act, were able to avail themselves of the appro- priation and add much to the usefulness of the corps that are investi- gating the diseases of domestic animals, the injurious insects and fungi, the geological formations and chemical components of soils, and the possibilities of profitable irrigation from our natural streams, or from artesian wells and artificial reservoirs. A building for the in- vestigation of animal diseases is being erected on the farm the present season, costing about $3,000.
A chemical laboratory was erected on the university campus in 1886, at a cost of $35,000, and a large sum spent in its equipment. It is a model in its arrangement and equipment, and has attracted the attention of educators all over the country to the perfection of its de- sign and the carefulness of its detail. The legislature of 1887 pro- vided the sum of fifteen thousand dollars out of the general funds of the state, to be added to $5,000 appropriated by the regents, to erect an armory and gymnasium on the university grounds for the use, primarily, of the cadets in military tactics, on condition that the building should be a memorial to Gen. U. S. Grant. It is rapidly approaching completion, as is also another large university building designated as "Industrial Hall," which will be occupied in part by the departments of agriculture, horticulture, botany, and geology, the high basement rooms being intended for the accommodation of a manual training department, where the use of tools will be taught, and rudimentary mechanical instruction will be given to students in the industrial department. This building will cost about $50,000.
One educational institution draws another, and the Nebraska con- ferences of the Methodist Episcopal church accepted a donation of a large body of land lying just beyond the university experimental farm, as a site for their chief institution of learning, the Wesleyan University, and have erected a building thereon of great architectural beauty, costing $75,000. It will soon be opened and it is expected that it will start out with an attendance of two hundred students. A
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
street railway is being built to it past the college farm, and a large "addition" to Lincoln has been laid out in lots and sold intits imme- diate vicinity, and is being dotted with residences.
The Christian church has already accepted a site in the same neigh- borhood for its denominational university, and expects to put up its buildings in a short time. The Baptists are also negotiating for a university site, and it is probable that they will also establish their college or university near Lincoln. The Episcopal Diocese contem- plates the establishment of an academical school for boys in or near this city. In short, the prospect is good that in a few years Lancas- ter county will be one of the principal educational centers of the West, and will have within its boundaries more classical institutions than any other county in the country.
The common school buildings of the county are none the less the peculiar pride of her citizens. They were the first costly buildings erected, and in Lincoln and the other towns and villages scattered over her broad expanse, the fine brick and stone structures that accommodate the schools are the wonder and admiration of eastern visitors.
Much as the political and educational importance of the capital city has contributed to the prosperity of Lancaster county, the value of the farming land that could a few years ago be bought from the first settlers for a trifle per acre, has been still more enhanced by the commercial importance of the city and by the numerous stations on the several railroads that traverse it, which gives every farmer in the twenty-four townships access to a market not far removed from his door. The Burlington and Missouri River Railway, the Union Pacific R. R., the Atchison and Nebraska R. R., and the Midland Pacific R. R. traverse the county from side to side, while the Missouri Pacific and the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley railroads are extended as far as Lincoln from St. Louis and Chicago. These, with a north-western branch of the Burlington, form nine concentrating lines to the capital and connect it with almost every county seat in the state. The two lines last mentioned will soon extend to the west and south, the Lincoln, Red Oak, and Des Moines company will shortly construct an eastern air line route toward Chicago, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific has made a survey from Omaha, via Lincoln, to Fairbury, increasing, when these are finished, the number of spokes to her commercial wheel to fourteen.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
On these roads outside of Lincoln there are twenty-five stations or distributing points within the boundaries of Lancaster county, an average of a little more than one station for every six miles square, or township, each of which is growing into a village, and several of which are already towns of considerable commercial importance for local trade, having regular town governments. In the near future, when the lines now in contemplation shall be completed, there will be from thirty-five to forty of these traffic centers in Lancaster. With such wonderful facilities for marketing their produce, the farmers of the county may rest assured that their possessions will always com- mand the highest value and be of ready sale.
At West Lincoln, two miles from the city, a manufacturing suburb is rapidly growing that is destined to add much to the wealth of the county and to the value of its farming lands. Extensive stock yards, two packing houses, a brick and tile factory of great capacity, a can- ning and provision establishment, a vinegar factory, and other estab- lishments have drawn in two years a population of several hundred, and many other similar enterprises are on foot to make it one of the busiest spots in the West.
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