USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Washington County, Nebraska; its early settlement and present status, resources, advantages and future prospects > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
The first improvements were made on the town site in 1869, when the railroad company erected a handsome and commodious depot, and a large store building, and two residences were built and a lumber yard opened by Samuel A. Francis-one of the early settlers of Fontenelle-and his brother-in-law, John Waynick, of Chariton, Iowa. Next a grain ware- house was built and successfully operated by L. H. Jones, who was the first station agent of the railroad company, and soon after, A. C. Mans- field opened a store with a large stock of goods, specially adapted to the wants of the country. In 1870, Dr. S. G. Glover, opened a drug store. John Butler built a blacksmith shop, and John A. Unthank. a graiu ele- vator.
In 1872, Nathan Foster, engaged in the lumber business in the new town. E. K. Gilbert opened a shoe shop, and Butler's blacksmith shop was bought by Chris. Hamming, J. C. Blackburn engaged extensively in the sale of hardware and agricultural implements, W. J. Crane became agent for the railroad company, vice Jones, and also engaged in grain buy-
58
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON
ing in company with R. E. Roberts, and G. Hershoff, bought out Ham- ming's blacksmith shop.
In 1873, David Bender established a grocery store, Silas Masters built the Eagle Hotel, R E. Roberts built a grain warehouse-which af- terwards developed into a large elevator -- Mr. Bender sold out his grocery and in company with Hayman Chapman went into the dry goods and gro- cery business on a more extensive scale, a lodge of Odd Fellows and an- other of the Sons of Temperance were organized, Williams & Curtis opened a paint shop, W. S. Cook a meat market and Henry Osterman a saloon.
During 1874, a blacksmith shop was built by John Hamming and a wagon shop by J. H. Stewart.
In 1875, the Masons organized a lodge, Bender & Chapman hav- ing dissolved, Mr. Chapman started in business for himself in the same line, W. Crane resigned his position of station agent, closed out a stock of goods bought of Mr. Chapman, in the following spring, and went into a general insurance, real estate and collecting business. A pub- lic school building to cost $5,000 was commenced and is now about com- pleted, Joseph Snyder opened a shoe shop, and Dr. Elwood associated him- self in the practice of medicine with Dr. Glover. Thus far this year no material business changes have taken place in the town, though it shows a steady increase of population.
The first marriage in Bell Creek was that of Mr. Joshua G. Benster and Miss Cora Jones, daughter of L. H. Jones, the first birth being that of a son of Mr. Butler whom he named Bertie. Miss Kate Parker taught the first school. The town commands the trade of a splendid section of the country, and is accessible therefrom at all seasons of the year by means of ridge roads which cross but few streams or sloughs. There is no town in the state of equal size from which more grain, cattle and hogs are shipped, for the handling of which first-class facilities have been pro- vided. Last year Mr. Blackburn did a business of $20,000 in hardware, wagons, agricultural implements, etc., while Mansfield and Chapman, the leading merchants, each sold nearly that amount ofgoods.
59
Russel Huller dass. dies. I visited her while living and reached has fermeral [sermon]. The lives in what was called it Indiana littlement. (3! waller) 1898
COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
RICHLAND PRECINCT.
AN OLD TIME SETTLEMENT-HOW IT GOT ITS NAME.
The settlement of what is now the southwestern part of Washington county was begun in the summer of 1856. Russel Miller and his three sons-in-law made the first bona fide settlement. They all took three hun- dred and twenty acre claims, agreeably to the Omaha Club law. which became the rule also of the Elkhorn club. Miller took the north half of section 28, and Adams, Lyons, and Dowling, his three sons-in law, took adjoining claims. Miller broke some prairie and they erected two or three houses. Miller bought the claim of one who had preceeded him, and who perhaps did the first breaking and built the first house, in which Mrs. Adams lived and died. When the precinct was formed it was called Richland because Miller refused to have it called by his name and sug- gested the name of Richland, that being the place in Ohio from which he canie.
Henry Wright broke a strip where S. S. Blanchard lives. He sold to Mr. W. E. Purchase, and " held " the claim for him for a while. Pur. chase brought a saw mill that summer or fall, the third in all the country around. The first was at Fontenelle; Shields', at Elkhorn ferry, on the military road to Fort Kearney, was second, and the one at Tron Bluff's or at West Point made the fourth. A man by the name of Oaks, who mere. ly held the claim without breaking the sod was located just north of L. P. Jenks. Fox, of Fontenelle carried the mail on foot to and from Oma- ha, forty miles.
Some time that summer (1856) H. R. Benjamin, now of Omaha, C. A. Whitford, and Odillon Whitford took claims in sections S and 9. They built a substantial log house, very near where C. A. Whitford's new resi- dence is. It was for years after known as the Indiana House, that being the State from which they came. Silas Masters built a log house on his farm in the fall of 1856 .- Dennis, Caleb Winch, and 'Adam Studt bought claims and occupied them in the fall and winter of 1856-7, Dennis, where A. F. Warner now lives; Winch, at L. P. Jenks' residence, and Studt, where that of F. Benard now is. Theophilus Thompson and R. B. Brown wintered at Thompson's west of Blanchard's, on Walnut creek. Brown's claim was south of Taylor's. Orrin Colby came in the sunimer
60
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON
of 1856 and put up a small house near his present dwelling, and now has one of the finest farms in the country. McNaughton occupied a little cabin where George T. Taylor's farm house now stands.
In the spring of 1857,a number of settlers came in. Judge J.S. Bowen, now editor of the Blair Times, his son Will R. Bowen, now of Omaha, and Dr. Heaton took claims in sections 13 and 14. Joseph Levi and Hiram John- son also took claims in sectton 23, and with their mothers and sisters re- sided on Hiram's claim. Azariah Masters, sr., father of Silas and Aza- riah, put np a substantial log house where Munson Downs now lives. Mc- Vickar also came and joined McNaughton in sections 15 and 22, now George T. Taylor's farm. In the summer of 1857 Mrs. Adams, daughter of Russell Miller,died, leaving a husband and two children, who soon after returned to Ohio. Nathaniel Brewster, early in the summer of 1857, put up a house on the hill just north of the present depot at Kennard. The house was burned down some years after.
In 1858 David Bender came and built a good house in section nine. His son-in-law, Amos Shick, came about the same time, and was engaged at the saw mill. He afterwards took and improved land in section three. John Hilton came in the summer of 1858, and lived in the Thompson house, (west of Blanchard's.) He died there not long after, and, to add to the affliction of the widow, the house with its contents was burned up within a few weeks after his death. Dr. Benjamin sold out to Simon Hammer and his brother-in-law, Hadley, and they divided the tract in section nine between them. John B. Ultz and Mrs. Ultz, Mrs. Ultz being the mother of Mr. Hammer and Mrs. Hadley, came with them. Hadley, some years after, went to Missouri. Mr. Hammer and the old Mr. Ultz are living in Bell Creek. Milo F. Young held the land now owned by George C. Pemberton for a year or so, next north of Benja- min's. John Mattes, now residing on the old Miller claim, lived north of Silas Masters on part of Wm. Hilginkamp's land. John A. Unthank and Azariah Masters came in the fall of 1858. Peter S. Reed and T. C. Powers came in the same season, and took claims in section twenty-four. Reed was an energetic man, and, having seen service in the Mexican war, became captain of company A, 2nd Nebraska, which was formed in 1862 chiefly of citizens of Fontenelle, Richland and Fort Calhoun. Rich- land furnished eighteen of the company. Evelin Purchase, A. J. War- ner, the Tomlinson brothers, and some others came early, but did not make definite location until after several years had elapsed.
The breaking out of the Pike's Peak gold fever, and the drainage of population from that cause and from the war that soon followed, removed permanently, or temporarily, a number of settlers, and the return of some of them with the settlers of later date need not here be chronicled. The precinct has long been noted for its beautiful farms and handsome and extensive groves-its first settlers having set an excellent example to those who followed them, in the way of tree planting.
61
COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
.
THE WASHINGTON COUNTY OF TO-DAY.
ITS CONDITION, RESOURCES AND ADVANTAGES BRIEFLY STATED.
In this centennial year of national independence, throughout the length and breadth of our magnificent land, there is no section of country which offers to the emigrant fairer prospects or more certain and speedy returns for the outlay of capital or labor, than does Washington county. The Missouri river on the east and the Elkhorn on the west, form a ver- dant fringe to tlie immense pattern in progress of weaving across which the plow speeds back and forth like a shuttle, throwing up in relief the outlines of towns and future cities as figures on its surface, while the gen- eral plan is filled in waving corn, golden wheat, nodding woodlands and running streams. Wonderful, wonderful have been the changes wrought in the condition of the county during the time of which this history speaks. But who can picture the still more wonderful transformations which this county will have undergone when two more decades have come and passed, and the year 1896 dawns upon us ?
At the present time, there are within the county, forty-six school dis- tricts, each provided with a good house for school purposes, varying in cost from $500 to $15,000. These houses will compare very favorably in appearauce and accommodations with the school houses in many of the older states, and are well supplied with maps, charts and globes-in fact all the necessary apparatus for teaching upon the most approved mod- ern principles. There are annually employed in the county seventy-four teachers, male and female, and the total number of children of school age is 2,323. The amount of wages paid to teachers for the fiscal year ending July 1st, 1876, was $11,626,95, and the total value of school property in the county at the present time, is $49,970.
Religious interests in the county are not neglected, there being now within her boundaries twenty-thre organized church societies, represent- ing thirteen denominations, many of which have elegant church edifices. There are at this time in the county, four Masonic, several Temperance, and three Odd Fellow organizations, while the order of the patrons of husbandry has a large membership. The Grange movement started in Washington county early in the fall of 1873, when Washington Grange
62
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON
No. 130 was organized at or near Fontenelle, and so rapid was its progress that in the spring of 1874 there were seventeen Granges in the county, with an average membership of over thirty, making a total of over five hundred members of the order of which about four hundred were vot- ers and one hundred ladies and young men under age. The order was very prosperous during the year 1874, and many new members were added to the several Granges, and on the tih of July of that year, the argest celebration ever had in the country, was had under their auspices in a grove at the head of New York Creek.
Early in 1874 a county council of the order was organized but for want of established rules for its government did not prove a success and a Pomona Grange took its place in March, 1876, being the second Pomona Grange organized in the State. This Grange is located at Blair the coun- ty seat and is composed of representatives from each Grange in the county It is expected that much good for the order will result from this organi- zation,
Washington county contains 400 square miles, or about 256,000 acres of land ; of which about one-eighth are river or creek bottoms. The rest of the country is rolling prairie, as smooth and even as is compatible with a well watered country and good drainage. The bottoms are dark allu- vial, chiefly vegetable mould, 4 to 20 feet deep. The uplands which are from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet above the bottoms, are a dark loam, rich in vegetable matter, from one to six feet deep, upon a subsoil of a light marly loam from twenty to thirty feet in depth, resting on clay. The soil is coarse quality, able to resist continued drouth, and is never soggy from excess of moisture.
The prairies are covered with a heavy coat of blue-joint grass, afford. ing rich pasturage and nutritious hay. Tame grasses are not needed, though they have been successfully raised. Timothy, red-top, white and red clover, Hungarian and other grasses do well. Kentucky blue-grass flourishes, and where started takes posession of the prairie. Every species of grain and roots grown in older settlements is raised here with ease and profit. There are now in cultivation over 180,000 acres in the county. Many farms have superior improvements. There are a number of good orchards growing, as fine fruits as those of any State to the East or West. The average crops for the last fiveyears have been, of wheat 15 bushels to the acre, corn 50 to 75 bushels, oats the same, barley 30, buckwheat 30, potatoes 60 to 100, hay 1} to 3 tons.
Several large mills have been erected upon the Elkhorn, and its abundant water power will soon be converted into more general use. Quite a number of smaller streams water the county, some of which have good mill sites. Among these are Fish, Long, New York, Stewart, North, South, Bell, Turkey, Deer, Moore, Little Bell, Brown, Walnut and other streams, besides the Papillion with its branches, which drains a large part of the county. Lumber grows in large bodies along the Missouri and Elkhorn rivers, and upon a number of the smaller streams ; and is chiefly owned by actual settlers, and can be bought for from $10 to
COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
$30 per acre. The timber of the bottom lands is principally cottonwood, interspersed with ash, elm and other hard wood. That of the valley hills and on smaller streams, is chiefly oak, walnut and hickory.
The county contains nearly 7,000 inhabitants. There are 20,000 acres of land in the county belonging to the Union Pacifie and the Sioux City and Pacific railroads, for sale on from five to ten years time, with six and ten per cent. interest, payable two years after date of contract, at from six to twelve dollars per acre, and are some of the best lands in the county. The rate of taxation is from two and one-half to three and one- half per cent. The assessed valuation is far below market value.
64
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, NEB.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
In closing this sketch, the writer desires to return thanks to John S. Bowen, E. H. Clark, Col. and Mrs. Wm. Kline, E. S. Gaylord, Perry Sel- den, Judge Jesse T. Davis, E. C. Jackson, J. H. Hungate, Alex. Reed, A. Castetter, E. M. Denny, W. J. Crane, J. A. Unthank, Harlow J. Carpen- ter, William A. Bell and J. C. Blackburn, for assistance rendered in col- lecting material therefor. It may be that some will be disappointed be- cause this is not a volume of several hundred pages, " bound in calf," with gilt edges and a picture of a train of cars chasing a herd of buffaloes on each cover. The only reason why I do not get up such a publication, is because it wouldn't pay. That task I cheerfully leave to that much-re- ferred-to-individual-the Future Historian, who is popularly supposed to be a man of leisurely, methodical habits, with an abundance of time and funds, and an unquenchable desire for glory.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
J. C. BLACKBURN,
DEALER IN AND AGENT FOR
Buckeye
RATHBONE SARDACORY
Reapers and
76
JAN.
1875
CENI
Mowers
Marsh Harvesters, Wm. A. Wood's Mowers
Buckeye Drills, Buckeye and Fountain City Seeders, Spie's Harrows, Burtrand & Same's Riding, Eureka Riding and Walking, Davenport Walking and Weir Walking Corn Plows; Furst & Bradley and Hapgood 16-inch Sulky Plows; 14 and 16-inch wood and iron beam Walking Plows, Prairie King Breakers, Brown and Keystone Corn Planters, Wagons, Hardware, Stoves and Tinware.
BELL CREEK, WASHINGTON CO., NEB.
KENNY & STEWART'S
HARDWARE HOUSE
(One of the Oldest in the County)
Blair, Nebraska.
STOVES
and a full assortment of TINWARE.
Full and Fine assortment of Table and Pocket Cutlery. Iron, Nails, Wagon Woods, Blaeksmith's Stoek, Guns, Powder, Shot and Caps. A full assortment of
House Furnishing Goods.
Hay Forks, Hoes, Shovels, Spades and Scrapers, Furst & Bradley Gang Plows. Furst & Bradley 16-inch Sulky Plow, Furst & Bradley Stirring Plows. Furst & Bradley Breaking Plows, Furst & Bradley Combined Cultivators, Furst & Bradley Sulky Rake. Scotch & Friedman Harrow. Rope of all Sizes. The finest assortment of SHELF HARDWARE north of Omaha.
ADVERMSEMENTS.
W. J. CRANE, Notary Public. Insurance, Collecting & Real Estate Agent. AGENT FOR TOWN LOTS. Taxes Paid on non-Resident Lands. Information given as to Value, Location, &c. Abstract of Titles sent on application. Correspondence solicited. Address, W. H. CRANE, Real Estate Agent, BELL CREEK, NEB.
Established Angust, 1873.
HAYMAN CHAPMAN.
DEALER IN
DRY GOODS! Queensware, Groceries, READY-MADE CLOTHING, HATS, CAPS, BOOTS & SHOES. Highest Market Price Paid for Country Produce. BELL CREEK, - NEBRASKA.
NATHAN FOSTER, Jr., DEALER IN Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Sash, Doors, Blinds LOUISVILLE CEMENT, Lime, Hair, Stucco, Sheathing and Felt, BELL.CREEK, WASHINGTON CO., NEB.
Staple and Fancy Dry Goods
JUST RECEIVED BY
HALLER BROTHERS,
Opposite Castetter's Bank, Blair, Neb.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE NEW FLOURING MILL
AT BLAIR
Is now open for business, and farmers can be accommodated with
Grist or Exchange Work. They keep constantly on hand FLOUR, BRAN, SHORTS, MIXED FEED, MEAL, &c., Which is for Sale or Exchange on reasonable terms.
ALEX. REED,
Real Estate Agent
AND
NOTARY PUBLIC.
Agent for the Purchase and Sale of Real Estate and Payment of Taxes. I HAVE FOR SALE IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED LANDS in all parts of the County. Keep a complete Abstract of Titles to all Real Estate in Wash- ington County. Blair, Neb.
F. H. MATTHIESEN. C. C. LOGAN. MATTHIESEN & LOGAN, BLAIR, NEBRASKA, Have received their new stock of
CLOTHING! TIES, COLLARS, STAPLE AND FANCY DRY GOODS, &C. Prices Lower than Ever Before.
O. V. PALMER & CO.,
DEXTER'S BLOCK,
Blair, Neb., HAVE
BOOTS, SHOES,
GROCERIES, QUEENSWARE, HATS AND CAPS. DRY GOODS. Also a full line of Staple and Fancy Articles at prices which defy competition.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
C. C, CROWELL.
A. P. HOWES.
C. C. CROWELL & CO.,
DEALERS IN
Lumber, Sash, Doors, Lath,
COAL, LIME, CEMENT, &c.
Special Rates on Large Bills.
OFFICE AND YARD-Opposite R. R. Depot.
BLAIR,
- - NEBRASKA.
The New Regulator,
At Rosa's Old Corner BLAIR, NEB., Is the Place to buy
DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES At the Lowest Cash Figures.
ROSA FISHER.
HALLER & LANE. Wholesale and Retail Dealers in
DRUGS, MEDICINES
OILS, PAINTS, FANCY GOODS.
Dye Stuff, Putty, Brushes and Glass. The Purest and Oldest BOURBON WHISKY, and Imported and Native Wines and Brandies for Medical Purposes, CIGARS, Toilet Articles, Trusses, Syringes, &c. Physicians' Prescriptions a specialty. Very low cash prices.
Washington street, one door East of A. Castetter's Bank, BLAIR, NEB.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
E. M. DENNY. 9 DEALER IN
MARSH HARVERTER
Agricultural Implements, Diamond Mowers, Improved Rakes. Daven- port Stirring and Breaking Plows, Riding and Walking Cultivators, MARSH SULKY CULTIVA- M. A. TORS. CORN SHELLERS, HARRISON WAGONS, PUMPS, ETC., ETC., Washington Street, Blair.
ADOLPH ALBRECHT,
GROCER AND DEALER IN
CIGARS, TOBACCO, DRY GOODS, BOOTS, & SHOES, Patent Medicines, Crockery Hardware, Tinware, Etc., FORT CALHOUN, NEB.
HERMAN BROS., Blair, Nebraska,
DEALER IN
Dry Goods, Groceries, Provisions, CLOTHING, BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, CAPS, &c.
Also in CATTTLE, HOCS and CORN. The oldest firm in Blair, where they have been constantly engaged in business since the organization of the town.
ALONZO PERKINS,
Loan, Collection and Real Estate Agent,
BLAIR, NEBRASKA,
Will pay the highest market price for School Bonds. Money Loaned on Im- proved Farms in sums to suit.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
ELAM CLARK & SON, PROPRIETORS
Calhoun and Waterloo
FLOURING MILLS ALSO OF Grain Elevators at Blair and Herman. GENERAL DEALERS IN FLOUR, FEED AND GRAIN. Main Office and Store Rooms at
OMAHA, NEBRASKA.
THE TIMES,
PUBLISHED AT
Blair, Nebraska, Every Thursday, AT $2.00 PER ANNUM.
JOHN S. BOWEN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
JOHN T. BELL, Official Reporter Third District.
HOMER STULL, U. S. Examiner in Chancery.
BELL STULL,
Short Hand Writers and Notaries,
OMAHA, NEB., will visit any portton of the state and Report Conventions, Speeches, Lectures, Court Proceedings, ete.
THE PILOT,
The Official Paper of Washington Co. is Published
EVERY THURSDAY MORNING AT BLAIR, NEBRASKA.
L. F. HILTON, Editor.
TERMS-Two Dollars per Year.
1
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 016 087 763 7
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.