USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 4
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
when these officers, led by the young attorney and a large posse from Milford, broke in upon them and arrested the two commissioners and started with them for Lincoln. John Olney, we believe it was, mounted a horse and rushed over to Seward and spread the news, and the settlers rallied at the house of Lewis Moffit just at dark, and it was a dark, dreary night, having rained much during the day. About a dozen of us resolved to go to Lincoln that night to the relief of the prisoners. We went way around by the Oak Grove settlement, and rallied them to our assistance. The night was so very dark that one of the company had to go on foot ahead and carry a lantern. We reached Lincoln just at daylight. It was raining. We were mad when we left home, and by the time we had reached Lincoln we were ready to fight a tiger. Our crowd was the biggest, and we were probably the maddest. You ought to have seen those Milford fellows keep out of our way. The sympathy of the Lincoln people was with us, and we had everything our own way on the streets. In due time Judge Cad- man opened his court.
We remember that Judge Pound was employed by our folks to conduct the defense, and he made on that occasion probably the ablest speech of his life, and probably that speech gave him the boost that has resulted in his splendid success in life.
We have never been able to find out where Judge Cadman got his jurisdiction over cases arising in Seward county. Mr. Imlay was dismissed, but Parker was held to bail for his appearance at the dis- trict court. This he peremptorily refused to give. The Seward boys said, "They can't take you to jail, Mr. Parker," and they didn't try. They wanted us all, including Parker, to go home. We were in no hurry, but we went when we got ready. The Lincoln folks cheered us, and the Milford fellows went home chop fallen. That case was never heard of in the courts afterwards.
This was only one of the many ludicrous scenes connected with the contest. It seemed in many instances that each party vied with the other to see which could act the most ridiculously. Both parties were fleeced out of hundreds of dollars by smooth-tongued Lincoln lawyers, which only helped to complicate matters and get us all into deeper trouble. This sectional strife so embittered the people against one another that they could not reason about the matter as intelligent men should. Looking backward through the years, we can see many
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
things that were done in haste and anger, that were born of prejudice, that we should all be heartily ashamed of. We were many times misled by unscrupulous lawyers into snares which cost us dearly. Our time and our treasure were sacrificed without stint. In many instances our prejudice and our ambition got away with our better judgment. The county seat cost many of us that got it more money and time and hard labor than it has ever been worth to us, while those that lost it were still worse off. It is our advice to the children to never engage in a county seat contest, for when a stubborn fight ensues it will cost more than it will be worth.
The winter of 1866-67 was one long to be remembered by all the old-timers. The snow began falling December 1st, and continued with short intervals until April. It was a succession of storms fol- lowing each other rapidly through the whole winter, and on the first day of April there were two feet of solid snow. As an index of what some of the storms of that winter were we will relate this instance : We were teaching the first school that winter in a little log school- house that stood near Mrs. Spear's residence. The building was com- paratively tight, with a sod covered roof. It began snowing during the day on Friday, and continued over Saturday and Sunday, but calmed down so that we thought we must go to the school on Monday morning.
We waded through the drifts to the school-house, and attempted to open the door. It would not open, and upon investigation we found the house full to the roof of snow.
We were compelled to abandon the school. On the 6th day of April the waters began to find their way through the huge drifts into the river, and it was a sight to behold the torrents of water rolling down from the high lands. The bottom lands became a sea of water -every ravine was a river. All the settlers on the bottom lands were driven from their homes. Communication was entirely cut off, provisions were very short, and much suffering ensued. Breadstuff had become entirely exhausted. Some painful scenes of suffering oc- curred, among which we note the removal of Mother Rogers from her death-bed from her home, which was inundated by the rising waters near Ruby station. Her deliverers barely escaped being overwhelmed by the floods. They took her to Milford, where she died a few days afterward. No such an amount of snow has accumulated in this
,
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
country since that winter, and Blue river has never been on such a wild rampage since. It was a happy circumstance that all the settle- ment was handy to the timber, else they would have perished. It would have been utterly impossible to have opened a road anywhere across the high prairie during January, February, and March. Small game, such as rabbits, quails, and prairie chickens, nearly all per- ished. The settlers lost a large proportion of their stock. Cattle and horses that lived through the terrible ordeal were but walking shadows when grass came to their relief in the spring. We were all in a sorry plight that spring. The people were half starved them- selves, so that they had but little strength or courage to work, and their teams were still worse off, and it was almost next to impossible to get in crops. The summer proved to be a good one for crops of all kinds, and we were all blessed with an abundant harvest. We soon forgot our trouble, and renewed our courage, and from that time fair success crowned the efforts of the early pioneers. The formation of the state government and the location of' the capital in an adjoin- ing county gave a wonderful impetus to settlement during the sum- mer and fall of 1867.
The Seward folks held out all possible inducements to the commis- sion to locate the capital on section 16, just north of Seward, but their efforts were of no avail. While our location was acknowledged to be by far more central in the state, and in every way more desir- able for the building of a great central city, convenient to the people of the whole state, and surrounded by scenery most magnificent, the influence brought to bear from Nebraska City was so great that the commission yielded to their demands to locate on Salt creek. Ne- braska City has had occasion to regret her own fatal mistake, for her child has grown so great as to suck her life-blood and left her to- mourn her departed greatness. While we were cheated out of what we were justly entitled to by our position, yet we were in condition to be largely benefited, and we gracefully accepted the situation, and went to work with a will to make the best of our opportunities. The building of a city so near us must facilitate development and advance values very greatly. A flood of immigrants poured in upon us dur- ing the fall and following spring. These were happy days for all who had produce to sell. Those fellows that were building Lincoln were awfully hungry, and they had plenty of money. They would
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
buy anything good, bad, or indifferent, if it could be eaten. Hay, grain, meat, and wood brought very high prices. The oak groves that filled the canons in the north-east part of the county were stripped of timber to keep Lincoln warm and cook her victuals. Under the stimulus of high prices and the general prosperity a large proportion of the government land in the county was taken up during the spring of 1868.
During this summer Seward was surveyed and platted. It was a misfortune that the place had not been surveyed and platted two years previous. Had this been done we would have probably fared better in our county seat contest, for while we were fighting for a prospective town, one that only existed in the minds of men, Milford was a town, in fact, ready to welcome anyone that desired to make it their home. We would also have been better prepared to contest for the capital prize, but this the community could not help. This matter was, of course, in one man's hands, and he was inclined to move slowly. But better late than never. The new town was popular from the first with all the people north of what we called Mason & Dixon's line. Mr. John Roberts built the first frame building in June, 1868, and rented it to Beatty & Davis for a general store. It was a small affair, and occupied the lot on the west side of the square, where Mrs. Tressler's restaurant now stands. J. N. Beatty built the first frame residence on the Windsor hotel block.
This was followed by the residence of W. R. Davis, at his present home. The Commercial house, in embryo, was built by W. H. Tut- tle. Dr. L. Walker had located on a farm three miles north-east of town, and what proved to be a lucky wind blew his house to pieces, and scattered it and the family all over the prairie. The doctor was induced to gather up the fragments and rebuild his house in town, on the site of the opera house. By the 4th of July we could fairly say that we had a town, and were ready to celebrate. A flag staff was found in an adjoining grove, and our fair women hastily made a flag. We raised the pole where its many successors have stood and fallen, and sent our little flag skyward to flutter in the gentle zephyrs for the first time. A pile of dirt from the public well served as a plat- form, and many eloquent speeches were made to the assembled multi- tude (about twenty persons). Sweet songs were sung, and a general jolly good time was had. Seward grew and prospered, and was the
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
joy and pride of the neighborhood. H. L. Boyes located in the early spring, and built a saw mill, which proved to be of great value to the people. The first frame school-house was built in the fall of 1869.
Up to the spring of 1869 the old log school-house had answered the triple purpose of school-house, meeting-house, and town hall.
The Milford folks had possession of the county books, and claimed the county seat by virtue of the count made by Reed and his can- vassers, while the Seward folks made most desperate efforts to have the election declared in favor of Seward or entirely invalidated and again remanded to the people.
A strong effort was made in the election of 1868 to elect H. W. Parker to the legislature, that we might get such legislation as would hasten a final settlement of the vexed question. He was the republi- can nominee for the district comprising Saunders, Butler, and Seward counties. Marcus Brush (now deceased), of Ashland, was his oppo- nent. A sharp and bitter sectional fight terminated in the election of Mr. Brush in a strong republican district. The Milford fellows for- got their republicanism, and swallowed Brush, democracy, and all.
Thus we (outgeneraled) were for a further time destined to hold an empty sack. We must fight on and wait through weary years for the prize we so much coveted. Meantime Seward prospered and was gathering strength from month to month. Samuel Manly opened a grocery store during the winter of 1868-69, also a Mr. Humphrey opened a drug store, and Samuel Stevenson started a blacksmith shop on the ground now occupied by the Pritschau block. Frank M. Elsworth opened the first law office during the summer of 1869. March 10, 1870, Hon. O. T. B. Williams issued the first number of the Nebraska Atlas. It was a rather small affair, but it was a begin- ning, and served a very good purpose in its day. It was a very up- hill business to publish a paper in so new a community, and in order . to keep the Atlas from winter killing we made a festival, and devoted the proceeds to relieving its wants.
Seward was a great place for sociables and festivals in the early times, and they were quite enjoyable, being always attended by old and young without distinction of race or color. All stood upon an equality, and they were always successful, both financially and other- wise.
On the 20th of September, 1869, the people voted on the first rail-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
road bond proposition. This was the first proposition by the Mid- land Pacific company, in which they agreed to build their road to the west bank of the Blue river in Seward county for $50,000 in 10 per cent bonds.
The proposition was so indefinite that it created neither opposition nor enthusiasm. It sort o' went through by default, having fifty-two majority. But the railroad company did not build the road, and our railroad matters rested until the winter of 1871-72, when Dr. Con- verse requested the business men of Seward and other citizens of the county to meet him at Lincoln, when he offered to build the Midland road through Seward county via the city for $150,000 in 10 per cent twenty year bonds. This proposition was submitted to a vote of the people in the spring of 1872, when a most bitter sectional fight en- sued. There were so many of the folks that were opposed to railroad bonds from principle living in and around Milford and Beaver Cross- ing, and in fact all over the south half of the county, that the propo- sition was defeated, and Seward was clothed in sackcloth and fairly rolled in ashes for a little season. We remember, when the election returns came in showing our defeat, the long faces of some of our prominent citizens. It would seem that they had lost the last friend they had on earth. A photograph of W. H. Tuttle, J. N. Beatty, Dr. Walker, W. R. Davis, and Jim Harris, together with some others (the writer not included), would, if taken that morning, clearly show how woe-begone our little city appeared, but " behind the clouds were all the stars," and the day of deliverance was near at hand.
We must return to the county seat embroglio. Every effort to get the decision of Reed's board of canvassers overruled by the courts had proved unavailing, and we were in a dilemma to know just what to do. We were afraid to attempt the removal by a two-thirds vote. They understood voting too well over at Milford. We must get the assistance of the legislature, and finally we got their help in the win- ter of 1870-71. One day while the enemy was napping we got such legislation as gave us the privilege of locating anew the county seat by majority vote.
Now we must measure swords on an even plane, but we had a wily foe. A new project was sprung to locate a B. & M. town at the exact center of the county, about two and a half miles south-west of Seward, with Mr. Phillips, of Lincoln, at the head. This new enemy had for a time most terrible proportions.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Milford had made up her mind to die happy if she could effectually kill Seward, and now was her opportunity. She would throw all her force in favor of the new town. Seward men trembled for awhile, but the clouds rifted. The B. & M. concluded to build her road through Saline county, and was content to take a lion's share of our land-her road she would give to others-and leave us to settle our own domestic affairs. The day of final battle came, and on the 10th day of October, 1871, in one of the most hotly contested elections ever held in Nebraska, we triumphantly established the county seat at Sew- ard by twenty-two more than two-thirds of the votes cast. Then was an hour of rejoicing. Seward was now the "big Ingun," and poor Mil- ford was sorry. But she had made a brave fight and left no stone unturned.
There is an old saying that, "everything is fair in war." Many people in Seward county acted upon that principle, and they were not all Milford people, either, but it is safe to say she had her full share, and if many of her generals and soldiers didn't throw as much dirt as the Seward folks, it was because they were not smart enough. Their intentions were to keep their end up. It is our pleasure, how- ever, to note the fact that in all the bitter fight of four years we believe there was not a fist fight connected with the contest, and, what is to the credit of all concerned, the most bitter partisan of Seward was cordially entertained by all the better class of the Mil- ford people, and vice versa. Hospitality was so much a part of their very nature that their sectional enemy must be fed and kindly cared for. This was the universal rule among the whole people, and we are heartily glad that it was so. We are also glad to know that those who fought one another the hardest are to-day the warmest of friends.
Among the notable workers in the interest of Milford, those that were ever ready to bear her banner aloft and fight her battles, first we mention Hon. J. L. Davison, the founder of Milford, and one of the best citizens the county ever possessed ; Judge Henry Wortendyke; Abram Courtwright, now resting from his labors in the better land; Hon. D. C. McKillip, now of Seward; Wm. H. Reed, the irrepres- sible county clerk. He was a "Hector" in the fight. His watch- word and battle cry was "Greece or Troy must fall." His battles fought, he rests with his fathers. Then comes Hon. J. H. Culver,
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
who was at the head of the firm of Culver & Parsons, who had the honor of printing the Blue Valley Record. The Record was sent out to au admiring world on the 29th day of December, 1870. Friend Culver tells us that the Record was a financial success, that they started it on a cash capital of twenty-five cents, and when the paper was retired some years afterward the cash balance was thirty- three and one-third cents and lots of experience. It was a good paper and used to whoop it up for the Seward fellows lively.
The Record steadfastly refused to pander to the whisky interest in any way, but was forever pouring broadsides of hot shot into their camp, and the "Shogo Island Picnickers" thought it rather thin.
There were many others worthy of mention, such as Uncle Sammy Brown, Father Merriam, L. D. Laune, Lee Smiley, George B. France, now of York, Father Hazlewood. These men and many others acted well their part and strove manfully to make Milford the prom- inent city of the valley, but stern fate was against her. But if Mil- ford could not be what her founders desired to make her, she has accomplished very much in the race, and is to-day a fine village with pleasant surroundings-a pleasant home place, a beautiful resort. Her splendid water power has helped her to one of the largest and best flouring mills in the state. Her sanitarium and her pleasure grounds will make her prominent through all the years to come.
Seward, now happy in the possession of the prize she long had sought, was on a genuine boom (in a small way). A comfortable court house was built, principally by subscription, new enterpises were started and new people flocked in by the score.
In the summer of 1872 the third proposition of the Midland rail- road was made to the people, and was somewhat different from the previous ones and was more liberal and more definite. Its salient points were are as follows:
One hundred thousand dollars in 10 per cent twenty year optional bonds, to be issued and delivered, first $75,000 when track was com- pleted to the city of Seward, or within one-half mile of the public square, if said track was completed and cars running regular trains by the first day of March, 1873, and $25,000 to be turned over to them when said track was completed and trains running to the west line of the county. Time indefinite. Also coupled with this prop-
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
osition was a like proposition for $25,000 for Seward precinct, com- prising what is now F and G precincts. One notable specimen of cutting off one's nose to spite one's own face was manifest in this bond fight. Dr. Converse offered to bind himself to build this road to. within a half mile of Milford, thence up the river to Seward, if our southern brethren would withdraw their opposition, but they had voted so unanimously on principle a few months before that they would not yield, but treated the offer with contempt. Therefore the doctor made overtures to the Oak Grove people and took the road just as far north as the ground would permit, and promised a station at Germantown, thus securing their votes, to the discomfiture of Milford.
The old-time bitterness was manifested again in this contest. Every family in the county was visited, and the most desperate struggle ensued. Victory perched upon Seward's banner again, and Milford was in deep distress and refused to be comforted. She had made a most fatal mistake. In her fit of anger she had seriously blundered, and it well nigh cost her her life. She was in splendid condition to have fairly rivaled Seward had she taken the tide at its. flood. The cars rolled into Seward on the first day of March, 1873, according to contract, and the future of Seward was assured. The first brick building (Joel Tishue's) was built during the summer of 1873. Wooden structures sprang up as if by magic. This remained the terminus of the road for four seasons, and trade centered with us from all the regions round about. Butler, Polk, York, and Ham- ilton counties hauled their grain here and were supplied by our mer- chants. It was a common thing to see the public square fairly blocked with loads of grain.
The capacity of the railroad was insufficient to carry away the wheat, and we have seen thousands of sacks of it piled up around the grain houses. Money was plenty and everybody was prosperous. Our first bank (state bank) was opened that June by Claudius Jones, in a little wooden shanty which was about twelve feet square, but it held plenty of money. Mercantile establishments multiplied and everything was hurrah. The little town began to put on metropolitan airs. The year had been an exceedingly prosperous one with the farmers. Crops were most excellent and brought good prices. Improvements went on at a rapid rate in town and county. Sod houses and log cabins were rapidly disappearing, being replaced by
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
substantial frame buildings. Groves of timber were springing up in all directions all over the great prairies, roads were opened and im- proved, bridges were built on the streams. Mills were built, orchards were planted, and all nature hereabouts seemed transformed. New school houses were shining from the hill tops throughout the county. This transformation reminds us that we had lived in the West twelve years (from the spring of 1858 to 1870); that we never heard the locomotive whistle, and you may be assured that its shrill notes made sweet music for our ears, and we hailed the glad day when we saw the first train penetrating the wilderness, and we still say, God bless the railroads and multiply them 'and give them honest and intelligent management that they may be a blessing to all the people, for they are indispensable to our civilization.
The schools of which Seward is so proud had a beginning in the old log cabin in the winter of 1866-67, with thirty-two scholars. The children that composed that little school are all now men and women, that are living, but several of them are numbered with the dead, among whom were Miss Lucy Clark, daughter of Rev. E. L. Clark, Leroy Moffitt, and Jasper Roberts. It is still our pleasure to personally know numbers of those children who are to-day occupying honorable positions in life, among whom are, Rev. Moulton Clark, of Wisconsin ; Rev. Victor Clark, of Illinois; James, Marion, and Douglas Roberts, of Colo .; Rolla Cooper, of Custer county, Neb .; Addison Imlay, of Montana; Mrs. Elsie Boyes, of Seward; Mrs. Myron Stubbs, of Bradshaw, Neb .; Mrs. Laura Hickman, of Sew- ard; Mrs. Sarah Anderson, of Seward; Mrs. Josephine Williams, of Chase county, Neb .; Mrs. Mary Imlay, of Seward; Mrs. Kate J. Ruby, of Marquette, Neb .; and Mrs. Nettie M. Pingree, of Colby, Kan. We should be glad to remember all other members of our little flock in these pages, but they are lost to us among the hurrying crowds of men and women of the world. We hope, however, that they are enjoying good health and they are all useful and happy.
Our first resident minister of the gospel was Rev. E. L. Clark, the founder of the Baptist church of Seward. During the summer of 1866 he preached for us at the house of Lewis Moffit. Rev. Skaigs, a young Methodist minister, also preached occasionally at the same place. We had an organized union Sunday-school as early as the spring of 1866, which continued to flourish until the organization of
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
the churches. This was the first between Lincoln and Denver. Nearly all the people, old and young, met at the Sabbath-school, and they were greatly benefited. The old log school-house was brought into use during the fall of 1866, and was our meeting place until the summer of 1869, for all public purposes.
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