USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume I > Part 39
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 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The first newspaper in Firth was the Times, the first number appearing De- cember 3, 1880; it was founded and published by H. Snyder. This paper has passed away and in 1915 the publication of the Advocate was begun by J. H. Curry. The sheet is independent in politics and is issued weekly.
ROCA
The name Roca implies "founded upon a rock." In the matter of stability and growth, the little town has merited well its name. The town was laid out by W. E. and E. G. Keys, John H. and Eliza Meyer, in 1876. The site of the town was chosen in 1872, located on the farms of the above named people. It was organized as a village in 1876.
Roca was early known as the home of good limestone quarries, in the year 1881 over sixteen hundred carloads of stone being shipped from the town. Also as a grain and live stock shipping point the town owes its early popularity.
The Bank of Roca was organized and opened for business in the year 1907. H. F. Warner is the president ; W. H. Meyer, vice president ; and Charles Dan- row, cashier. The capital stock is $5,000, and the surplus $1.500. Although small, the institution is in the center of a prosperous community and the prob- abilities are that it will become one of the leading banks among those of the smaller towns of Lancaster County.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Roca was organized in 1876 and incor-
310
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
porated in May, 1878, by Rev. A. G. White, Joseph Southwick, Benjamin Allen, Henry Spellman, Moses Mitten, B. Harnley, D. W. Ellis, G. O. Adams and Stephen Feather. There is also a Lutheran Church in the Town of Roca.
HICKMAN
On section 33, Saltillo Precinct, is the Town of Hickman. Hickman was laid out by C. H. Heckman and the plat filed for record on September 20, 1872. At first the Town of Hickman progressed very slowly, but in recent years it has been developing rapidly and now ranks with the larger towns of the county.
The Bank of Hickman was started in 1891, among the men back of it being J. H. Catron, Sr., M. E. Catron, E. K. Bradley, L. Enyeart and George W. Hawke. The first capital stock was $20,000. The present officers are: J. H. Catron, president ; F. M. Stapleton, vice president and cashier ; John Slote, assist- ant cashier. The capital stock is $20,000; the surplus, $6,000; and the deposits average $100,000. The First State Bank of Hickman was organized in 1913. S. H. Heckman is the president ; Henry Diesel, vice president ; and C. H. Heck- man, cashier. The capital is $15,000; $2,000 surplus ; and $80,000 in deposits. The fact that the Bank of Hickman has had a rapid growth and steady life through the financial difficulties of past years, and that recently a new bank was organized, testifies well as to the stability and virility of the Town of Hickman.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Hickman was organized in 1883 and the German Presbyterian Church in 1902.
The Hickman Telephone Company was incorporated in July, 1905, by Adam Bruedle, J. F. Judah, C. L. Morrison, Henry Diesel, A. E. Van Burg, H. B. Sinker, R. H. Sawyer, Charles H. Heufel and Aug. Schmutte.
The newspaper of the town, the Enterprise, was started in 1886 by a Mr. Blizzard, and remarkable as it may seem, is still being published as an inde- pendent weekly by Cyrus Black, with a circulation of 700.
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY TOWNS
The small Village of Cheney is located on section 26, in Grant Precinct, located on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The townsite was plat- ted by Joel Converse in the year 1874 and the plat filed for record at the county seat on July 13th of the same year. The Town of Cheney has grown to be a good agricultural business community and is popular with the farmers of the vicinity. The Bank of Cheney is an institution started in the latter part of 1909 with a capital stock of $10,000. Charles Marshall, J. L. Marshall, J. A. Harlan, W. G. Bullock, John T. Marshall and R. W. Marshall were interested in the inception of this bank. The present officers are: Charles Marshall, president ; John T. Marshail, vice president; W. G. Bullock, cashier. The capital remains at $10,000 ; the surplus is $2.300; and the deposits are $40,000. The Cheney Telephone Company was incorporated in February, 1912, by J. W. Rooney, John O'Brien, H. D. Gove. Roy Vanderslice, and C. E. Cummings. Baptist, Catholic and United Brethren churches are located in Cheney and are all in a prosperous condition with good memberships.
The Town of Davey is located on section 30, Rock Creek Precinct. The
311
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
town was started and platted by the Western Town & Lot Company and the plat filed for record October 14, 1886. The Farmers State Bank of Davey was organized in 1903. H. Johnson is the president of the institution; L. Ilanson is the vice president; J. M. Hanson is the cashier; and Peter Nelson, assistant cashier. The capital stock of the bank is $8,000; the surplus, $6,000; and the deposits, $95,000. One newspaper, the Mirror, which is published by the Inter- state Company of Lincoln, contains items of local interest. There are two churches in the town, the Catholic and Danish Lutheran. In 1893 a Swedish M. E. Church was started.
Denton is a small community situated on section 22, Denton Precinct. Denton was laid out by D. N. and Sophia Smith and surveyed by M. Willsie. The plat was filed for record on August 1, 1871. The town is located upon the Burlington Railroad. The Denton State Bank was organized in 1906. The bank is officered by W. M. Rowland, president ; Mary Rowland, vice president ; and C. M. Rowland, cashier. The capital stock carried by the bank is $10,000; the surplus, $3,000; and the deposits average about $60,000. The Denton Rec- ord, a weekly newspaper, is published by the Interstate Company of Lincoln. Catholic and Methodist Episcopal churches care for the religious needs of the people of Denton.
The thriving little Town of Hallam is located on sections 30 and 31 of Buda Precinct. The town plat was laid out by the Kansas Town and Land Company and the plat recorded December 29, 1892. The town is a station upon the Burlington System and is quite a shipping point for the neighboring precincts. The Hallam Bank was organized in 1898 by a company of local men. Gerhard Rippen is the president of the bank at the present time; F. T. Carsten is the vice president ; and C. F. Burk is the cashier. The capital stock is $10,000; the sur- plus, $2,000; and the deposits average nearly $100,000. On April 24, 1893, in the Hallam Schoolhouse there was organized the German Evangelical Congrega- tional Church. It was incorporated by Albert Gerdes, Peter Gansemer and P. Van Hove. The Farmers & Hallam Telephone Exchange was started in April, 1911, by C. F. Burk, Andrew Walker, Chris Keller and G. H. Nannen. Another telephone company had previously been organized in 1906, known as the Star Telephone Company.
Holland is a typical Dutch town located on section 3, South Pass Precinct, located on the Burlington Road. The Reformed Church of Holland was first incorporated in September, 1886, by the following: Gert Van Engen, Hendrick Van Beek, Lubbert Lokhorst, Hendrik de Vries, Quirinus Huyser, Gerrit van der Beek, Hendrik Jan Lubbers, Jan Willem Lecferdink. Hendrik Jan Wubhels, and Lubbert Boeve. The church was reincorporated in February, 1890, by Peter Poort. H. J. Te Brinke, A. Kommers. E. Nota, A. Bykert, John Kallemeyr, Martin Klein, Jacob Kallemeyr, Bartain Kallemeyr. John Van Enger, Dick Kallemeyr, Martin Kallemeyr and Jacob Der Hollander. This is the only church in the town ; there are no banks or newspapers.
Kramer is located on section 9, Olive Branch Precinct, and was laid out by L. H. Wilcox and the plat filed for record March 3. 1888. It is located on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Two churches, the German Lutheran and the Methi- odist, are located here.
Malcolm is situated on section 21, Elk Precinct, on the Burlington. It was
312
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
laid out by M. A. and Emma Showers and the plat filed for record on October 13, 1877. The Malcolm State Bank was organized in 1906 and is now managed by the following officers: A. Otterman, president; W. E. Behring, vice presi- dent ; L. E. Cozad, cashier ; W. R. Ehlers, assistant cashier. The Malcolm bank has a capital stock of $7.500 ; a surplus of $3.700 ; and deposits of $75,000 on the average. The Malcolm Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated and started in August, 1884, by Rev. A. M. Ogborn, J. C. Mahan, J. W. Miller, J. W. Smith, William Weyant, John Carpenter, and Chris Roahrer. The Mal- colm Messenger, a local paper, is published by the Interstate Company of Lincoln.
The Town of Emerald is located on section 23, Middle Creek Precinct, located upon the Burlington Railroad. The Emerald State Bank was started in 1915, incorporated May 14th, by J. W. Daily, E. R. Lippe, C. H. Becker, C. F. Hopp- man, H. C. W. Jarms, O. Kloeckner, A. C. Heydon and C. E. Shafer. The First Baptist Church was started in August, 1892, by Rev. Chapman, F. Mayes, E. S. Davison and G. M. Yales. The Methodist Church was organized about the same time. Both of these societies are flourishing and are well attended by people from the town and the surrounding country.
Martel is a hustling little village in Middle Creek Precinct. The Martel State Bank was started in 1905. R. E. Moore is the president ; John H. Moore, vice president; W. H. Moore, cashier; and J. Carl Sittler, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $10,000; the surplus, $2,000; and the deposits, $70,000. One church, the Union Church, was started in 1894 and a house of worship erected then. The Martel Leader, a weekly sheet, is published by the Interstate Company of Lincoln.
The Town of Panama is located on section 3, Panama Precinct, and was located in the late 'zos. The Bank of Panama was organized in July, 1891, by Louis Hobel, Othniel Howe, Charles Marshall, John T. Marshall, Samuel Tilton, John Forrest, Ruben Coun, John Robertson, Thomas J. Dickson, James Dickson and Robert G. Dickson. Charles Marshall is the president of the bank : Samuel Tilton, vice president ; and John T. Marshall, cashier. The capital stock of the bank is $10,000 ; the surplus, $3,700 ; and the deposits, $135,000. Three churches, Christian, Presbyterian and United Brethren. The Panama Record is published by the Atlas Company of Lincoln.
Prairie Home on section 12, Stevens Creek Precinct, was laid out by Charles and Betsey Harman and Phoebe Fox. The plat was filed for record February 21, 1891. The Farmers Bank of Prairie Home was established in 1905. J. D. Dasenbrock is the president; Ellen Westland is the vice president ; and J. B. Dasenbrock, cashier. The bank has a capital stock of $7,000; a surplus of $500; and deposits of $25,000. The Methodist Episcopal is the only church society in the village.
Princeton was laid out by James and Harriett Kilburn, John and Mary Biron and Sevilla Peter, upon farms owned by them. The survey was made by WV. S. King and the plat filed for record July 8, 1886. The community is located upon the Union Pacific Railroad. The Christian Reformed Church was started in 1896 by a number of residents; besides this society there now exists a Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
In Oak Precinct, section 6, is the Town of Raymond, on the Union Pacific
313
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
Railroad. The town was laid out by T. P. and Lioina E. Kennard and surveyed by J. P. Walton. The plat was filed at the county seat on April 19, 1880. The Bank of Raymond was started in 1901 and is now officered by the following : W. J. Weller, president ; II. H. Forke, vice president ; J. C. Denser, Jr., cashier ; B. B. Jennings, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $12,000; the surplus, $3,200 ; and the deposits, $80,000. The Presbyterian Church was organized and incorporated in February, 1881, by John D. Mulvane, Willard Kinyon and L. L. Larimer. The Methodist Episcopal Church had its beginning in 1911, the incor- poration being made by W. J. Weller, H. H. Forke, H. S. Weaver, J. M. Nord, T. W. Van Tuyl, J. C. Denser, Jr., S. Yonker, J. W. Bennett and D. F. White. A Methodist society existed here years before, but the above date is the first record of incorporation. The Raymond Review, weekly, is published by the Interstate Company of Lincoln.
Saltillo is a station on the Burlington, located on section 36, Yankee Hill Precinct, and section 31, Grant Precinct. The town was laid out in September, 1872.
The Town of Sprague is located upon sections 27 and 28, Middle Creek Precinct, and was laid out by L. H. Wilcox, the plat being filed for record May 3, 1888. The Bank of Sprague was started in 1910. Following are the present officers: Albert Egger, president; M. Miles, vice president ; Frank F. Miles, cashier : William Krull, assistant cashier. The capital is $10,000; the surplus, $2,000 ; and the deposits, $35,000. The Sprague Booster, a weekly paper, is issued from the Atlas Company of Lincoln. The Presbyterian Church of Sprague was incorporated and organized July 23, 1893, by John W. Taylor, James Andrel, Henry F. Mitchell, William H. Finley, Allen P. Ferguson, M. O. and Chauncey F. Diehl, and Thomas L. Sexton.
Walton is a hamlet located on section 31, Stevens Creek Precinet. The Farmers and Merchants Bank of this place was organized in 1909. T. C. Wilson is president ; H. W. Mayer, vice president ; and L. A. Berge, cashier. The capital stock is $10,000; the surplus, $2,500 ; and the deposits about $70,000. Walton is located upon the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Agnew, on section 12, West Oak Precinct, was laid out by Eliza States and the plat filed May 2, 1889.
Jamaica, on section 36, Yankee Hill Precinct, was platted in 1885.
Woodlawn, on section 31, Oak Precinct, was laid out by N. B. Kendall and Charles D. Smith and the plat filed March 29, 1878. In 1902 the town sprang into momentary notoriety by the robbery of the Burlington train near here, $35,- 000 being taken by the bandits.
Other stations in the county, which have no postoffice, nor any community of size, are: Arbor, Berks, Burnham, Cobb, Hawthorne, Pella and Rokeby.
CHAPTER XXIX STATE INSTITUTIONS
THE STATE PENITENTIARY
The act providing for the construction of the state penitentiary south of Lincoln, on land donated by W. T. Donovan and G. H. Hilton, was passed by the Legislature on March 4. 1870. W. W. Abbey, W. W. Wilson and F. Temp- lin were appointed prison inspectors, to manage the disposal of 34,000 acres of land granted by the Government for prison purposes and to superintend the building. The sum of $5,000 was appropriated for the construction of a tempo- rary prison, to be completed by the 28th of April. Perkins & Hallowell were the contractors. The inspectors named above advertised for plans and specifi- cations for the penitentiary, fixing the following June as the time of opening. William H. Foster of Des Moines, Iowa, was successful and upon these plans proposals were advertised for, which resulted in the acceptance of those of W. H. B. Stout and J. M. Jamison. The contract price was $312,000 and the con- tractors completed the building, to the extent of the state contract, in the fall of 1876. The quarries of Saltillo, twelve miles south of Lincoln, supplied the hard magnesia limestone for the walls. Additional cells and more building space has subsequently been added to the penitentiary grounds. The first warden of the institution was Henry Campbell.
PENITENTIARY REVOLTS
The first mutiny at the state prison broke out about 4 o'clock on the after- noon of January 11, 1875. The instigator of the trouble was Convict McWaters, accompanied by Convicts Bohanan, Worrell, McKenna, C. W. Thompson, Gerry and Elder. Their first step was to surprise and overpower the guard in the workshop. Deputy Warden Nobes was also seized, robbed of his keys, stripped of his clothes, McWatters putting the latter on. Nobes was left in care of three ,of the mutineers, while the others armed with crow-bars, started for the main building. Blacking the sides of his face to represent the warden's whiskers, McWaters marched the four up to the main door in prison style, so that the door guard thought it to be the warden with a file of men, and opened the door. The prisoners sprang upon this guard and then rushed up stairs, broke into the armory and captured guns and ammunition. The deputy succeeded in loosen- ing his bonds without being noticed by his captors, suddenly seized a hoe which was near by, and with a few blows compelled the convicts to flee. They joined their companions in the main building. Their plan was to get into citizens'
314
شيدر
-
NEBRASKA STATE PENITENTIARY
315
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
clothes, obtain arms in the armory, kill the guard in the southwest turret, and just before dark make their escape through the board wall at the southwest corner. But the fortunate escape of the deputy and the alertness of the guards in the eastern turrets defeated this plan. Guns were brought to bear upon the door and the mutineers were unable to leave. Mr. Ayers, who was posted in the northeast tower, saw the prisoners as they marched out of the old prison to the main building. But as McWaters had disguised himself as the deputy warden and as the convicts marched in single file, prison order, he suspected nothing wrong. But when the alarm was given and he saw that the main build- ing was in the hands of the convicts, he stepped down from the tower and sought shelter behind the fence. When the convicts left the door and started for the gate he fired four times, driving them back into the building.
Warden Woodhurst and two of the guards were in the hands of. the muti- neers. The alarm soon reached the people of Lincoln and many citizens armed themselves and hastened to the penitentiary. Every time anyone appeared at the door of the main building a volley was fired in that direction, which was effectual in keeping the convicts confined there. About I o'clock the next morn- ing Company I, Twenty-third Infantry, arrived from Omaha, under command of Major Randall, and immediately stationed guards around the walls until morning. After the arrival of the troops firing began from the besieged build- ing and was returned by the citizens and soldiers. The soldiers intended to rush the building from the south and charge the convicts in the morning, but when daylight came, and the imprisoned men saw the military, they lost hope. Mrs. Woodhurst, the wife of the warden, had been confined in the main building during the whole night, unable to join her husband who was on the outside. The convicts did not molest her as they held her in great respect. When they decided to surrender in the morning they stipulated that it would be only to her. Mrs. Woodhurst came to a window and told the besiegers what the convicts desired. Accordingly she led McWaters and his gang outside and delivered them over to the law. Mrs. Woodhurst has been given practically all of the credit for her success in persuading the prisoners to surrender without further fighting. Julius Grojean, a guard, was shot in the knee, but this was the only bloodshed.
THE SECOND REVOLT
On May 27, 1875, occurred the second revolt at the prison, again led by McWaters, who this time met his death. McWaters and his accomplices had planned this coup for a long time, and decided to kill Kolkow, keeper of the wash house, then Deputy Warden Nobes, after which a general rush was to be made to get possession of the prison. Sixteen men were counted upon. After dinner on Tuesday, May 26th, the time fixed for the uprising, the prisoners were not allowed to leave the main building. But the following day they were marched out as if nothing were suspected of the plot. The guards had instructions to shoot anyone who made a suspicious move. The convicts went to work indus- triously. John Geary shortly was granted leave to go to a toilet and as he emerged McWaters held up his hand and started for the same place. The two convicts met directly under the guard cage and as they passed McWaters touched Geary and made a threatening remark. The guard heard the sound of Mc-
316
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
Waters' voice and held his gun in readiness. McWaters picked up two stones and was about to hurl one of them at High Blaney, the guard, when the latter fired, the bullet entering McWaters' jaw, severed the carotid artery, and passed out just above the left kidney. McWaters never spoke after the shot. He walked over to Overseer Cochran, about twenty feet away, and fell into his arms where he died. The guard trained his rifle on Geary and the latter, though threaten- ing, went back to work. The other convicts in the yard continued their work, although they might have all mutinied had not the guards taken such prompt action.
THIE 1912 REVOLT
The trouble which came to the penitentiary in 1912 started with the stabbing of Warden E. D. Davis by Albert Prince, a negro convict, at the close of the chapel exercises on the morning of Sunday, February 11, 1912. Davis lived until 11.45 that night and then passed away. This stabbing had nothing to do with the subsequent revolt, but came so close to the latter that the two have been associated.
At 2.15 P. M., Thursday, March 14, 1912, Warden James Delahunty, Dep- uty Warden Henry Wagner and Usher E. G. Heilman were killed and Thomas J. Doody severely wounded, in a battle with three convicts, namely: Charles Taylor, alias Shorty Gray, alias Murray, alias Rogers, a three-termer, bank rob- ber, serving 28 years, from Aurora; John Dowd, serving 20 years, from Cass County for burglary committed at Louisville, Neb .; Charles Morley, serving 15 years for highway robbery, from Omaha.
In the afternoon these three men entered the prison chapel on a peaceful pretext. When once there they gathered together and rushed to the office of Deputy Warden Henry Wagner, at the southwest corner of the chapel. Wag- ner was shot in the breast as he sat in his chair and died almost instantly. In the meantime Guard Doody had followed them into the chapel and as the three convicts turned from Wagner's door they faced the guard's fire. They replied and at the first salvo Doody fell, wounded in the leg. From his position on the floor he fired six more shots at the prisoners who took positions behind three iron pillars. Doody was again wounded and dragged himself to the door. The convicts hurried to the iron cage which barred their way to the warden's office and the outer corridor. Covering Turnkey Pahl with their revolvers Morley and Dowd cleared the way for Gray, an expert in explosives, who soaped the steel lock and blew it with nitroglycerin. They rushed into the turnkey's room and took the keys from him. As they turned Usher Heilman appeared at the door of his office. They shot him in the breast, after which he staggered back into his office. Warden Delahunty had come to the door of his own office across the corridor from that of Heilman and to the right of the hall. He opened fire upon the convicts and they returned the shots. Delahunty received a mortal wound and fell to the floor, where he expired. This gave the three desperadoes a clear path and they hastened to their freedom, facing a blinding snow storm.
They went at once to the home of J. S. Dickman, Twenty-seventh and Van Dorn streets, and remained there until late in the evening. Then they forced one of the Dickman small boys to drive them in a milk wagon to Twentieth and
317
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
R streets. From here the trail was lost until picked up at the Hall house near Prairie Home. The men had walked to llavelock and stayed in a barn loft there for several hours, then proceeded into the country.
Posses were formed and started to scour the country for the escaped men and a company of militia was placed on duty at the penitentiary to prevent any further uprising. Four days after the revolt the men were traced from Mur- dock, Neb., where they had robbed two stores. They stopped at the Ilall home for shelter, and also at the Blunts. Roy Blunt, a young farmer, newly mar- ried, was forced to hitch his horses to a wagon and drive them away. In this conveyance the posse in charge of Sheriff Hyers first caught sight of them after a pursuit of fourteen miles along the road. A running fight ensued, the first to be killed being Roy Blunt, the driver of the wagon and the innocent victim of the bandit party. At a point 31/2 miles outside of Gretna, northeast, the sheriff and those who had maintained the pace got within good rifle range of the fleeing men. Hyers stopped his horse, rested his gun on a telegraph pole and fired. Shorty Gray, the most notorious of the three bandits and the leader, was killed by this shot. Dowd, seeing that his leader was out of the game, placed his gun to his head and killed himself. This left Morley alone and he jumped from the wagon and started back toward his pursuers, with his hands raised in the air in token of surrender. He was taken into custody and hurried back to the penitentiary, with the two bodies of his associates. Morley is now serving a life sentence for his complicity in the revolt. Ile testified that Gray was the leader of the three and that he had not known of the plot until the morning of the day it was put into effect. Revolvers, explosives and knives had been smuggled into the prison by some outside friends of the convicts. No further outbreak occurred at the prison, due to the strong guard of troops held there.
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.