USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Past and present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 14
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The corner stone of McCormick Hall was laid by James B. Heart- well, president of the board of trustees, July 12, 1883. The cere- monies were elaborate. The principal speaker was Dr. Gregory, president of Lake Forest University. From the city a procession nearly a mile in length, led by the Gazette Journal band, made its way to the college campus. After the ceremonies the out-of-town guests were given an eight-mile drive in the country, and that evening a banquet was partaken of, at which covers were laid for 400 guests.
The walls of McCormick Hall went up rapidly, and it was ready for the fall term of 1884. The dedicatory address was delivered by Dr. Herrick Johnson. The total cost of this building was $14,703.00. Ringland Hall was erected the following year at a cost of $16,799.54.
HASTINGS COLLEGE CAMPUS, HASTINGS
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
James B. Heartwell gave $10,000 for the erection of the second build- ing, and citizens of Hastings gave the remainder. At about this time another Presbyterian college located at Bellevue, Neb., was seeking recognition by the synod, and it is likely that this furnished added zest to the zeal that hurried the second building to completion.
The college campus contains twenty-nine acres. Twenty acres were donated by Joe Hanson, of Hastings, as an inducement for the erection of a college at its founding. Nine acres have subsequently been acquired by purchase. In 1884, the trustees purchased eighty acres lying west of the college grounds, this was platted as College Addition, and it was at this time that University Avenue was laid out. The proceeds from the sale of lots in College Addition were used for benefit of the college.
One of the most trying periods in the history of the college was in 1888. On November 9, of that year, the executive committee can- vassed the situation for some hours, considering the accumulated debt, resulting from securing buildings and grounds, and meeting running expenses for six years without endowment. The debt amounted to about $37,000. Dr. Ganse, secretary of the board of aid for colleges, met with the trustees at this time, and said that he believed if the citizens of Hastings could lift the debt then accumulated, it would be possible afterwards to secure some endowment. The trustees at this time were seriously considering closing the doors of the college; instead, however, a strong effort was made to lift the debt. The widow of Cyrus H. McCormick announced that she would contribute $15,000 for endowment, if the debt were paid. This was eventually done, and the gift of Mrs. McCormick became the foundation of the endowment.
A vast amount of labor has been expended in securing endowment. Friends of education in the East helped liberally, and Hastings has contributed again and again. The endowment at this time amounts to $220,000. This amount was raised through several active cam- paigns. The first $50,000 was completed in 1904; the next $50,000 in 1909; the next $100,000 in 1913: $20,000 was raised between 1913 and 1916.
Hastings College had only the two buildings, McCormick Hall and Ringland Hall, until 1907, when Alexander Hall, a dormitory for young women, was completed at a cost of $16,011.68. The prin- cipal gift for this building was made by A. L. Clarke; it was named in honor of Samuel Alexander.
Carnegie Science Hall and Library was completed in 1909 at a cost of $23,000. Andrew Carnegie contributed $20,000 for the erec-
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tion of this building, and it was named in his honor. Shortly after- ward, Johnson Gymnasium was built, and named in honor of P. L. Johnson, who was one of the principal workers in the raising of the endowment, and who for many years has been an active helper of the college in many ways. The athletic grounds were called Hanson Field, in honor of the donor of the original twenty acres- Joe Hanson, who still lives in Hastings.
All the buildings of the institution are heated from a central heat- ing plant, which was constructed in 1912, the greater part of the labor being done by the students under the direction of P. L. Johnson.
Since 1912, Hastings College has been classified as a Class A institution by the College Board of the Presbyterian Church. It is the only Presbyterian institution of that class for nearly three hundred miles in any direction, and the only one in this latitude from Eastern Iowa to the Pacific Coast. It is also a member of the North Central Association.
The library of the college contains 7,000 volumes; the laboratories have been equipped at a cost of $9,000, and the museum has an equip- ment valued at about $15,000. Prof. Walter J. Kent is largely responsible for the development of the museum. In 1908, Professor Kent secured the installation of the weather department, which has since been furnishing the community with daily forecasts.
The first graduate of Hastings College was J. H. H. Hewitt, who is now a practicing attorney at Alliance, Neb. Mr. Hewitt was the sole member of the class of 1887. In all, 183 have been graduated by the institution. The class of 1916 numbered eighteen, which was the largest class to he graduated by the college. The faculty and assistants number twenty-three.
In 1914, a chair fund was created to endow the chair of biblical instruction in memoriam of Mrs. C. L. Jones, of Hastings, who, in that year, lost her life through accident. Mrs. Jones occupied the chair of biblical instruction at the time. The endowment, when com- pleted, will be $25,000, $18,000 of which have been subscribed.
Dr. W. F. Ringland, the first president of the college, served in that capacity from April 1, 1883, to his resignation in June, 1895. Prof. W. N. Filson then acted as president until June, 1896, when Salem G. Pattison assumed the executive position, which he held until his resignation in the early part of 1900. Professor Filson was then elected president and continued in office until June, 1902, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. Van Dyke Wight. President Wight resigned in 1907. In that year, Dr. A. E. Turner was elected presi- dent and continued the work until his resignation, in February, 1912.
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The office was then vacant until the meeting of the trustees, in June, 1912, when President R. D. Crone was elected. President Crone has occupied the chair from that time.
Among the early workers for Hastings College was Rev. Nahum Gould, at whose home, in Kearney, the first meeting of the presbytery was held, and Hastings College was first discussed in an official meet- ing. Reverend Gould favored locating the institution at Kearney. A. L. Wigton, a charter member of the board of trustees, continued to be a friend of the college until his death, which took place in Omaha in recent years. His son, Dr. Harrison A. Wigton, of Omaha, was graduated from the institution in 1900.
Samuel Alexander, the pioneer merchant of Hastings, was sec- retary and treasurer of the board of trustees for twenty years. He died in Hastings on Easter Sunday, 1908. Robert Brown was a loyal supporter of the college through the years of its adversity. He was a member of the board of trustees for nineteen years, and for many years prior to his death, March 20, 1905, was president of the board. The Rev. David S. Schaff, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church from 1887 to 1891, and at present professor of ecclesiastica} history in Western Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, is a life con- tributor to the college. He is the founder of the endowment for the Junior prize essay.
The classes graduating from Hastings College have been as follows:
1887
J. H. H. Hewitt.
1888
Mrs. Edith Haynes Maunder, Mrs. Alice Nowlan Clouser, Robert N. Powers, Mrs. Alice Yocum Bondessen, Mrs. Carrie Kimball, and Francis I. Cunningham.
1889
Henry R. Corbett, Mary Crissman, D. W. Montgomery, Elizabeth M. Stine.
1890
D. C. Montgomery, Mrs. Eva Frankenburger Presher, Ira Mc- Conaughy, and Mrs. Maud Wotring-Raymond. Vol. I-10
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
1891
Frederick Goble, Maud H. Jorgenson, Mrs. Emma Nowlan Filson and Ida I. Myers.
1892
Robert E. Moritz, Mrs. Kathleen Hartigan Goble, Janet L. Car- penter, Charles C. Caton, and Mrs. Lida Powell Hoeppner.
1893
Mrs. Jennie Stuckey Barrett, Royal B. Stuckey, Alma Chapman, Mrs. Rosanna Stine Clawson, Clyde B. Aitchison, Hallie Hood, George Norlin.
1894
Mrs. Laura Baily Brown, Harriet Myers, Mrs. Bertha Green Connells, William L. Little, Harry B. Allen, Etta Caton. Grace Shepherd.
1895
Mrs. Lillian Brown Steele, Mrs. Martha Cunningham Brown, Mrs. Trangueline Andrews Taylor, and Mrs. Lettie Shepherd Mudge.
1896
Robert A. Patterson, Charles A. Arnold, William O. Bunce.
1897
J. Edgar Jones, William E. Kunz, Alfred E. Barrows.
1898
William H. Chapman, and Benjamin L. Brittin.
1899
Ernest M. Brouillette, James B. Brown, Edward R. Bushnell, Clarence M. Cook, Urdell Montgomery, Richard D. Moritz, Charles Stein, and Wilson F. Stichter.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
1900
Joseph Baily, Margaret E. Haughawout, Mrs. Julia Heartwell Payne, Mrs. Margaret Jones Smith, David J. Lewis, R. Melvin Smith, Mrs. M. Aberdeen Webber Ketelle, Roy A. White, Harrison A. Wigton, and John Brown.
1901
Mrs. Edna Ball Davis, Allen Carpenter, Chris Christensen, Henry S. G. Hurlburt, George U. Ingalsbe, Mrs. Julia Jones Osborne, Hugh T. Mitchelmore, Thomas C. Osborne, Annie L. Richards- Letson, Gertrude Weingart, and Grace Ingalsbe.
1902
Grace A. Boyd, Mrs. Anna Halberg-Anderson, and Rev. Henry C. Millard.
1903
Mrs. Esther Alexander Young, William H. Cassell, Mrs. Goldie Edgerton Ferguson, Mrs. Aileen Kress Max, Cecil Phillips, Charles P. Russell.
1904
Bernard J. Brinkema and John Skinner.
1905
Elmer T. Peters, Alexander J. Dunlap, William Roy Hull.
1906
Lawrence R. Wright.
1907
Marmaduke F. Forrester, Magdelena Gueck-Eller, Francis R. Striker, and Robert C. Theobald.
1908
Margaret Agnes Brinkema Smith, Henry W. Funk, John Mohl- man, Allison Henyan Gaymon, Carl Everett Hull, Frank Charles Humphrey, Mrs. Jeanette Johnson Phillips, George F. McDougall, and Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips Johnson.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
1909
Helen Ingalls Turner, Adam Lichtenburg, Carlton O. Ranney, Byron G. Sager, Norvel II. Smith, Ellen A. Tompkins, and Herman C. Welker.
1910
Shepherd M. Dunlap, Flora F. Fisher, Mrs. Jennie Haner Schell- ing. Willard T. Mann, Mrs. Lois Owen Barbour, Harrison F. Rus- sell, Alice K. Sayre-Reynolds, Erma E. Spicer, Minnie R. Spicer, Ruth A. Warner, and Raymond L. Welker.
1911
Howard O. Coale, George E. Crawford, Millard B. Scherich, Carl V. Theobald, and Frank E. Weyer.
1912
Anna Crawford, Gretchen Campbell, Marie Keal, Doris Roelse. Dorothy McCreary, Blanche Weeks, Vera Russell, and Archy D. Marvel.
1913
Ruth Marguerite Capps-Marvel, Mabelle Clare Carey-Weyer, Mrs. Frances Pearl Damron Brown, Walter Bedford Johnson, Wil- liam A. Julian, Susie Elizabeth Bailey-Moore, Mattie Antoinette Theobald, Benjamin Harrison Bracken. Theodore Ray Crawford, Anna Lavina Kelley, Jennie Belle Rozell, and Lillis June Tennant.
1914
Chris U. Bitner, Julia Holm, Leonard Doolittle Sims, Stephen Morris Weyer, Louis E. Uden, Lorena Elizabeth McKeone, Muriel Claire Shepperd, Charles H. Velte, and William F. Raney.
1915
Warren Davidson, Ethel Decker, Leland Hall, Robert II. Likeley, and Harold Roelse.
1916
Reuben G. Dunlap, William Ward Martin, Bernice M. New- becker, Hazel E. Parks, Carl E. Pratt, Frank C. Prince, Edward
n
4
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY, HASTINGS
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
G. Punke, Henrietta M. Raney, George W. Rosenlof, Roland Scott, Eglantine Skillman Velte, Perry Leon Byram, Daniel J. Gretzinger, Helen O. Jones, Julia Philbrick, Howard G. Pratt, Mildred Stein, and Daisy C. Tompkins.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY
The Immaculate Conception Academy is located in Hastings, on Fourteenth Street and Pine Avenue, and is conducted by the Sisters of Saint Dominic. The building is a magnificent structure of brick, standing upon a foundation ten feet high, built of Colorado red sandstone, from the quarries of Thomas E. Farrell. Mr. Farrell was largely instrumental in the locating of the academy in Hastings, and donated the original ten acres of the campus. The ground dimensions of the building are 60 by 184 feet, and it is three stories high. The east wing is the monastery and is especially set apart for the sisters in charge. The west wing is the academy for the accommodation of students and the reception of visitors. The plans and specifications of the structure were prepared by C. C. Rittenhouse, a Hastings architect, after designs by Kiely of New York, and the contract for building was let to M. Trich of Hastings.
The construction of the building was begun in the spring of 1889, and the buildings were opened January 6, 1890, and on February 5 the first reception of novices was solemnized by Bishop Hennessy. The school at that time was conducted by the Sisters of The Visitation, and the school was known as the Academy of The Visitation. The crop failures of the next few years made the existence of the new academy most precarious, and in 1896 it was forced to close its doors. The sisters returned to Chicago, and the property passed into the hands of creditors.
From 1896 to 1908 the building was unoccupied save by wandering domestic animals, and it was threatened with ruin. The creditors were unable to dispose of the property. In 1908 through the efforts of Rev. William MacDonald, of Hastings, interest was aroused in Hast- ings, and the debt of $8,000 was paid. The Commercial Club of Hastings raised $5,000 of this amount, and the Catholics of the city raised $3.000. The property was then given in fee simple to the Sisters of Saint Dominic. At the solicitation of the Right Reverend Bishop Bonacum and Rev. William MacDonald the Sisters of Saint Dominic of the Sienna Convent of Kentucky came to Hastings and reopened the school, September 13, 1909. Those in charge at that time were Sister Mary Louis, Superior; and Sisters Aloysius, Teresa,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
Margret, Louis Bertrand, Mary Pius, Anastacia, and Rose. The curriculum at the opening included ten grades, each successive year a grade was added, until twelve grades were offered. In 1911, the institution was accredited to the state university as a high school, and the following year the course offered was approved by state board of education to grant the bachelor of education degree, normal school diploma and professional life certificate. Music, art, dramatic art and domestic science are offered. The teachers at present are Sisters Columba, Teresa, Margret, Virginia, Matthew, Catherine, Frances, Alvarez, Emily, Rose Marie, Bernardine and Benignus. Nineteen were graduated from the institution in 1916. Fourteen of the class were granted elementary certificates; three, life certificates, and two degrees in music.
The value of the Immaculate Conception Academy property is now estimated at $100,000. The campus comprises thirty acres. Five thousand dollars were expended in finishing the building before it was reopened, and $25,000 in furnishing. A primary school was estab- lished by the Catholics in 1912. The old church, which stands on the west side of Colorado Avenue, between Seventh and Sixth streets, is used as a school building, and has an attendance of about seventy-five.
MID-WEST BUSINESS SCHOOL
The Mid-West Business School was founded in 1888 by J. H. Schoonover, who died several years ago. A Professor Wilson pur- chased it from Mr. Schoonover and operated the school for a number of years and then soll it to Professor H. S. Miller, now of Wichita. Kansas. In 1903 G. E. Boggs purchased a half interest in the school from Mr. Miller who went to Wichita at that time. Mr. Boggs bought the remaining interest from Mr. Miller in 1905 and con- ducted the school until 1910 when it was purchased by W. A. Julian and Charles W. Foot. In 1912 the school was bought by the present proprietors. F. L. Groom and II. L. Renick.
It was first called the Queen City Business College and afterwards the Hastings Business College. For many years the school was located in quarters over A. M. Clark's drug store, and it removed to its present quarters in the Madgett Block shortly after the completion of that building in 1907.
CHAPTER X ADAMS COUNTY BENCH AND BAR
THE BENCH
The constitution of 1866, written for the oncoming statehood of Nebraska, contains the first provision for courts and judges to succeed those disappearing under territorial regime. This document was constructed and adopted by a convention of able men of the territory, and on February 9, 1866 it was approved by the proper officers and submitted to a vote of the people June 2d of the same year. The returns of the election showed a ratification of the instru- ment and on February 9, 1867 the Congress of the United States passed an act admitting the territory into the Union as a state, the terms of which act were accepted on the 21st day of the same month and year by the governor, president of the Senate and speaker of the House, whereupon the proclamation of President Johnson was issued on the first day of March, 1867, formally admitting Nebraska into the Union.
The first section of article four of the constitution of 1866 pro- vides that: "The judicial powers of the state shall be vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, Justices of the Peace, and such other inferior courts as the Legislature may from time to time establish. The Supreme Court shall consist of a chief justice and two associate justices, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum, and shall hold a term of the Supreme Court at the seat of government annually."
The second section of the same article provides that the state shall be divided into three judicial districts and the several District Courts thereof shall be presided over by one of the supreme justices. This practice obtained until the adoption of a new constitution for the state in 1875; hence, from the date of the organization of Adams County up to the time of the going into effect of the provisions of the new constitution, the District Court was presided over in turn by Oliver P. Mason and Daniel Gantt, members of the supreme bench.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
Justice Mason oceupied the trial beneh of the county until 1873 and Justiee Gantt until 1876, when this arrangement was superseded by the provisions of the new constitution.
In the line of judicial officers no change was made in the constitu- tion of 1875 from those in the prior constitution except the addition of police magistrates for towns and cities.
Under appropriate legislation based upon the constitution of 1875 Adams County beeame a constituent part of the Fifth Judicial Distriet, and at the election in 1876 William Gaslin of Buffalo County, then a part of the distriet, was chosen as the judge of the district and served as sueh continually, barring a short period when Adams County was attached to the Fourth District under Judge Morris, until he was sueeeeded by Fred B. Beale of Harlan County. Mr. Beale was elected in November, 1891, and held his first term of court in Adams County the following Mareh.
In the meantime, the number of the district had been changed in 1880 to the Eighth District and carried that number by legislative action until 1892, when by another change in number and territory, it beeame the Tenth District and so remains to this time, 1913.
William Gaslin, strictly speaking, the first distriet judge of the county, was of the sturdy New England stoek and was, by educa- tion and experience, well equipped for the serious and arduous service upon the bench in a border state. He was of an exception- ally strong personality, skillful in the application of any or all the resources at his eommand. Probably his most valuable and lasting service upon the district bench was his courageous holding of a firm hand over the lawless elements of frontier life. At the close of his long service the affairs of the several counties comprising the distriet were as peaceable and orderly as in the New England whenee he came, and at his death, coupled with deep regret there was a gener- ous expression of gratitude for the publie service he had so well rendered.
In 1891 Fred B. Beale was county attorney of Harlan County, Nebraska, and resided at Alma, looking after the pleas of the commonwealth under Judge Gaslin. At the hustings that fall Mr. Beale became the candidate of the independent voters for the distriet bench and defeated Judge Gaslin at the ensuing election. He changed his residence to Hastings and resided there during his two terms upon the bench. He was a just man of many refinements, well suited to the improved eonditions of society made possible by the rugged methods of his predecessor. It is no disparagement of either to remark that Beale could not have done the work of Gaslin's time;
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
neither would Gaslin have maintained his prestige in Beale's time.
Edwin L. Adams of Kearney County succeeded Judge Beale in 1900. He brought to the district bench all the good acquirements of both Gaslin and Beale, further embellished by native ability little short of the marvelous. He served two terms and retired. With better health, he was destined to rank still higher as a jurist and as a leader of his fellowmen.
The Tenth Judicial District consists of six large and populous counties : Adams, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan, Franklin and Webster. Harry S. Dungan, of Hastings, was elected to succeed Edwin L. Adams and in January, 1908, entered upon the duties of the presid- ing judge of the Tenth Judicial District. The growth in population, commerce, education and refinement, called for enhanced equipment of the incumbent of this important office. His excellent training at the fireside of his parents, and in the public schools, rounded out with a full course in college, supplemented by years of reading under the tutorship of an able practitioner, linked with diligence every day in the year, put Mr. Dungan forward in the ranks of the legal profession clothed with the essential preliminary attainments that pave the way for a successful and honorable career among men. IIe has brought to the bench in the discharge of its burdensome duties the skill of an Adams, the energy of a Gaslin and the refinement of a Beale, and is now reaching the close of his second term, carrying with him the confidence of the district in his integrity and ability.
The Probate or County Court is, in some respects, the most important tribunal in the commonwealth, because of its original and exclusive jurisdiction at first hand over the settlement of the estates of decedents, and also as the conservator of the estates of minors, incompetents and spendthrifts, together with certain powers and duties touching the personal custody and welfare of juvenile delin- quents, and has lodged with it the sole power to issue marriage licenses and concurrent authority to perform the marriage ceremony. It also possesses a limited concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court in certain criminal and civil actions.
Upon the organization of the county Titus Babcock of Juniata was chosen as the judge of this court, and by re-election continued to serve until succeeded by Benjamin F. Smith of the same town. Mr. Smith was followed by George F. Work of Hastings, who in turn was replaced by James H. Fleming. Mr. Fleming occupied the bench from January, 1884, to January, 1890. He was then suc- ceeded by William R. Burton, of Hastings, who held the office for four years and was followed by Jacob Baily of Hastings, who ocen-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
pied this bench during the ensuing four years. Adna H. Bowen was elected next and assumed the duties of the office in January, 1899, and retired at the close of his second term to be followed by Harry S. Dungan who presided over this court until the expiration of his third term in 1908. William F. Button suceeded Judge Dun- gan and was elected for four successive terms. In the summer of 1915 Judge Button resigned, his resignation to take effect at the expiration of the first year of his third term, January 1, 1916. The county board of supervisors elected John Snider to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Button. Mr. Snider was Judge Button's opponent in the campaign of 1914.
The several townships have kept in office competent men as justices of the peace and the towns entitled thereto have been served with police judges or magistrates.
In the territorial days, the pleas of the commonwealth were looked after by the attorney-general, but upon the adoption of state- hood the attorney-general was replaced in this duty by a prosecuting officer, legally designated as district attorney. The latter rode the circuit with the judge and had charge of the important prosecutions in all of the counties of the district. In addition to this office, the several county boards were empowered to employ an attorney to assist in the conduct of the civil affairs of the county. The office of district attorney was abolished in 1885 and the election of a county attorney provided for whose duties embrace both the civil and criminal affairs of the county. Prior to 1885 criminal proceedings could be begun only upon an indictment against the accused being returned by a grand jury; since that time, however, proceedings can be begun upon the filing of an information by the county attorney. The last grand jury called in Adams County was in May, 1915. when Judge Dungan ordered an investigation of the bribery charges made in court by W. P. Davis of Hastings against John T. Culavin of Omaha in the John O'Connor will case. Davis testified that Cula- vin had offered him and his wife $2,000 each to witness a will in favor of Culavin. No indictments were returned by the grand jury.
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