USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Past and present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 4
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
30
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
The first commissioners encountered something of a tangle aris- ing from the collection of taxes in one county by another county. When counties were originally formed by the legislature they often embraced territory lying outside the counties as they were composed when actually organized. Thus when Adams County was first formed its northern boundary was the Platte River. February 16, 1872, Commissioner Selleck announced that Hamilton County had collected in Adams County in taxes $3,370.11. The taxes were said to have been collected in the years 1867 to 1870, inclusive. A. II. Bowen, on some sort of agreement with the commissioners had talked the matter over with the Hamilton County officials and on February 16 the commissioners directed the sheriff to notify Hamilton County that Adams County "holds it responsible for a deficiency of $883.43 that A. H. Bowen refuses to pay over." Subsequently it was decided that Mr. Bowen had been authorized by Deputy Clerk Babcock to collect from Hamilton County.
Isaac W. Stark now brought a charge of embezzlement against Mr. Bowen and Mr. Bowen contributed an article to the Adams County Gazette roundly criticising the commissioners as intriguers and incompetents. Shortly afterward the commissioners adopted the motion of Mr. Brass that no further steps should be taken in the prose- cution of Mr. Bowen. Thus ended the first disturbance in the internal politics of Adams County.
In the report that Commissioner Selleck made on the tax situation he declared that at least $8,000.00 was due Adams County from Saline County. By the next motion the commissioners resolved them- selves into a committee to collect and it was ordered that an attorney be employed to collect from Saline. At about the same time O. A. Abbott. agent of Hall County, presented the claims of his county to the money received by Adams County from Hamilton. This claim was put upon the ground that this money represented taxes collected by Hamilton from that part of Adams County lately set off to Hall County. The board immediately carried the motion of Mr. Brass that the commissioners get the best counsel in the state to look into Hall County's claims. On April 2, 1872, the commissioners ordered the clerk to notify Hall County that Adams was not indebted to it and therefore would not pay. In turn Adams County levied some taxes in the unorganized County of Kearney. The tax tangle lasted a number of years, but collections were trifling on these early claims.
February 15. 1872, Justice of the Peace H. H. Ballou, who was also overseer of the poor, reported to the board that Peter Fowlie was a charge. Mr. Fowlie had frozen his foot and the foot had been
31
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
amputated by Dr. J. R. Laine. Doctor Laine presented a claim of $150 to the commissioners for his service. Commissioner Allen moved that the claim be allowed at $50.00. Mr. Brass amended the motion to allow $75.00, and the amended motion carried. The next day it was ordered that each of the commissioners resolve himself into a committee to select a site for a poor farm, and February 17th, the motion of Mr. Brass that $25.00 be set aside for assistance to the poor was carried.
The commissioners charged themselves with locating a poor farm and ascertaining whether a quarter section might be preempted for that purpose. They traveled over the county on several different occasions and on April 4th, selected section 2, lying immediately west of the present poor farm. On July 13th they reconsidered the selection and ordered the purchase of the present poor farm from the Burling- ton Railroad. The farm comprises 320 acres, which is the south half of section 1, township 6, range 11. The amount paid for it was $3,173.86 with the taxes accruing from 1872 to July 9, 1883, upon which date the railroad executed a deed to Adams County.
The first house erected upon the poor farm was built in the fall of 1872. Ira G. Dillon was the contractor and the price was $1,400. The building was 16 feet by 24 feet and a story and one-half high. In August, Peter Fowlie had been appointed overseer of the poor at a salary of $25.00 per month. On November 1st, the overseer reported that there were six county charges and on November 4th he assembled them in the new poorhouse. The following rules were imposed by the commissioners upon the poor-farm dwellers: rise at 6; breakfast at 7 ; dinner at 12; supper at 6. No smoking in sitting rooms or bed- rooms or near haystacks. No profane language or card playing.
Peter Fowlie continued to be poormaster until February 11, 1874. when the farm was rented to M. B. Kelley for $2.25 an acre for fifty acres, Mr. Kelley to receive $4.00 per week each for caring for the poor. In the meantime Mr. Fowlie had applied to the commissioners for an artificial foot and the subject was discussed in many meetings in 1872 until early in 1873 when accepting the counsel of James Laird. who had been appointed county attorney, the board were dissuaded from their good intentions. Peter Fowlie became deputy county treasurer under Mr. Thorne.
In 1885 the county supervisors submitted to the electors a propo- sition to sell the poor farm. The vote resulted in 744 for selling and 705 against. The proposition failed, not getting the legally necessary two-thirds majority. At the same election it was voted to purchase a building for the farm. At present the house on the poor farm con-
32
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
tains fourteen rooms. Furnace heat and a water pressure system were installed in 1913 and this year, 1916, a new barn, 44 feet by 64 feet is being built. The average number of dependents at the farm is about six. The present overseer of the poor farm is J. Riley Baugh. Others who have served in that capacity are Frank Crozier, A. K. Deffenbaugh and Charles W. Hall. Mr. Hall was the overseer for twelve years.
The office of county treasurer did not seem alluring in 1872. John S. Chandler who was elected December 12, 1871, resigned January 29, 1872, the day set for the approval of his bond. Commissioner Brass acted as temporary treasurer until George Henderson qualified February 15th, receiving into his custody $1,222.49. Henderson re- signed July 3d, and Ira G. Dillon was appointed the same day, his bond being fixed at $8,000.00. October 22d, the treasurer's bond was fixed at $15,000.00. At present it is $100,000.
Until Hastings was incorporated April 21, 1874, liquor licenses in the county were issued by the commissioners. February 29, 1872, license was fixed at $200.00 per year : May 21st it was raised to $400.00. March 15, 1873, license was issued to Charles Kohl to operate a sample room in Hastings, the license fee being $200.00 for six months. This was the first license issued for Hastings, but two had previously been issued for Juniata.
July 23, 1872, the commissioners took steps towards the develop- ment of industries in the young county. This was by granting the petition of S. L. Brass, A. II. Bowen and others to submit to the voters of Juniata Precinct the proposition of voting $6,000.00 in precinct bonds for the erection of a steam grist mill in Juniata. On November 26th, fifty-seven votes were cast for the bonds and ten against. The provisions were that the mill was to be located in Juniata and completed by October 1, 1873. The mill to have three runs of stone and to cost not less than $12,000.00. The operator must give bond in the sum of $10,000.00 to grind all the grain delivered to the extent of capacity for a term of twenty years at a toll not to exceed one-sixth of a bushel for each bushel ground. It was provided that the bonds operate as lien for twenty years to insure faithful com- pliance.
On October 11th George W. Moore, of Illinois, accepted the prop- osition. He was not able to complete the mill in the required time and the precinct voted to extend the time one year. The mill was even- tually built. Litigation grew out of the venture, but milling was estab- lished in Juniata and continues to this day.
The building and repair of bridges is one of the problems that
33
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
the supervisors contend with at the present time. It was also a part of the perplexities confronting the early commissioners. The first movement toward bridge construction in Adams County was made October 11, 1872, when the commissioners let the contract to H. T. Clark for two bridges ; one across Thirty-two Mile Creek and the other across the Little Blue River. On October 22d, the location of the Thirty-two Mile Bridge was determined as the point where the quarter line running north and south through section 1, township 6, range 11, crosses the creek. On November 8th, the Little Blue Bridge was ordered to be built on the line between sections 25 and 26, township 6, range 10, at the point where the line crosses the river. This bridge was to have a span of fifty feet. The contract for both bridges was let for $1,795.
The commissioners fixed bounties for the killing of wolves and wild cats in 1872 and for the first several years they recorded paying such bounties.
The making of road districts the records of the commissioners show was pushed rapidly. Twenty-three districts were defined at one meeting early in 1873, which brought the total in the county up to thirty-five districts. Of the sixty-four districts in the county at the present time only four retain their original number; these are districts 55 to 38, inclusive, in Logan Township. There are 1,152 miles of road in Adams County. The aggregate tax levy for roads and bridges in 1913. reduced to the basis of dollars raised per mile in that year and comprehending both the county levy and the township special levy was $43.10. Of this sum $19.30 was for bridges. The aggregate amount contemplated by the levy for that year was $49,651.20. The average per mile levied in Nebraska that year was $40.20.
Adams County was under the commissioner form of government from December 12, 1871, to November 21, 1883. A statute passed by the Nebraska Legislature in 1877 provided for township organiza- tion in counties. The proposition was voted in Adams County in the November election, 1877 ; there were 732 votes for township organ- ization and 36 against. Late in 1877 the Supreme Court held in a case coming up from Lancaster County that the law was unconstitutional. In 1883 the Legislature again provided for township organization and in the November election, Adams County adopted township organiza- tion by a vote of 1,523 for and 146 against. Under the law providing for the change in county government there was one supervisor for each precinct, but precincts having more than 3.000 inhabitants were entitled to one additional supervisor; more than 5,000, two additonal and thereafter one additional supervisor for every additional 2,000 Vol. 1-3
34
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
inhabitants. For a time Adams County had twenty-three supervisors. In 1891 this law was amended to provide that each city or village of 1,000 or over should be entitled to one supervisor and one additional supervisor for each additional 4,000 inhabitants.
January 11, 1884, the county was divided by the supervisors into eight townships. West Blue was defined within the boundaries now containing Highland and West Blue; Denver contained the present Denver and Blaine, except Hastings; Ayr, Ayr and Zero; Silver Lake, Silver Lake and Logan; Cottonwood, Cottonwood and Rose- land; Juniata, Verona and Juniata; Kenesaw, Kenesaw and Wanda. June 6, 1884, the eight precincts were each divided into two, forming the present townships.
During 1895 the county was divided into seven supervisor districts which now exist. The law provided that if at that time there were more than one supervisor in a district they should determine by lot who should be the supervisor. At the November, 1895, election, one supervisor was elected in each district. Those elected in odd num- bered districts held office one year; those in even numbered, two years. The law now in force provided that those elected in odd numbered districts in 1914 shall hold office for four years and those elected in even numbered districts in 1916 shall hold office for four years.
The districts as formed in 1895 with regard to territory are made up as follows: District No. 1-West Blue, Highland, Denver and Blaine. District 2-Juniata, Hanover and Ayr. District 3-Verona, Kenesaw. Wanda and Cottonwood. District 4- Roseland, Logan, Silver Lake. Zero and Little Blue. Districts 5, 6 and 7, the City of Ilastings.
When the three commissioners were first elected one was elected for one year; one for two years and one for three years. Thereafter each commissioner was elected for three years. The following were elected :
COMMISSIONERS
Wellington W. Selleck 1871
Edwin M. Allen. 1871
Samuel L. Brass. 1871
Russell S. Langley. 1873
A. D. Yocum. 1874
John R. Ratcliff. 1875
Edward M. Moore 1876
A. D. Yocum 1877
35
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
C. G. Wilson 1878
A. V. Cole. 1879
W. W. Hopper 1880
Gordon H. Edgerton 1881
A. V. Cole. 1882
H. Armstrong 1882
Mr. Armstrong was elected in 1882 to fill the vacancy in the third district caused by the resignation of Mr. Hopper.
SUPERVISORS 1883
J. H. Spicer, William Z. Parmenter, W. R. McCully, George Crane, James E. Reed, H. P. Rowe, Henry Stammer, M. A. Harg- leroad, H. C. Minnix and S. M. Frink.
SUPERVISORS 1884 1585317
James E. Reed, John P. Duncan, H. P. Rowe, Samuel Arnold, A. T. Shattuck, Amos Shattuck, Henry Schnulle, William R. McCully, R. M. Boyd and S. M. Frink.
SUPERVISORS 1885
James E. Reed, Walter Stebbins, L. L. Mills, II. C. Minnix, W. II. Waldron, George Crafford, E. L. Dutton, Davis Lowman, A. H. Cramer, William A. Jones.
SUPERVISORS 1886
Myron Van Fleet, Charles Kohl, A. H. Cramer, S. G. Johnson, S. L. Heaps, L. B. Partridge, Adam Reader, Jacob Wooster, W. H. Waldron, Davis Lowman, H. P. Rowe. R. M. Boyd, J. P. Duncan. James E. Reed, H. C. Minnix, W. P. Brown, Henry Stammer, D. M. Ball, S. C. Dilley, S. M. Frink, Amos Shattuck, F. J. Benedict and T. B. Burns.
SUPERVISORS 1887
Amos Shattuck, II. B. MeGaw. Thomas B. Burns, W. H. Wald- ron, A. T. Shattuck, J. S. Way, Thomas T. Jones, E. L. Dutton. Walter Theisen, J. P. Duncan, A. S. Thompson, J. H. Spicer, F. J. Benedict, A. H. Cramer, James McKelvey, Thomas W. Carter,
36
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
W. W. Miles, Leopold Hahn, Jacob Wooster, Myron Van Fleet, E. D. Jones, S. M. Frink, W. B. Brown and L. Blumenthal.
SUPERVISORS 1888
William M. Vastine, A. C. Moore, J. C. Kay, Jacob Wooster, W. M. Lowman, F. M. Alexander, A. H. Cramer, Henry Stammer, B. F. Munson, A. A. Sayre, F. C. Phillips, W. B. Brown, B. B. Snodgrass, S. G. Johnson, J. F. Fernow, Aaron F. Powers, W. H. Waldron, Edward Creager, Thomas Carter, J. C. Woodworth, Frank P. Harmon and Adam Reader.
SUPERVISORS 1889
E. F. Gettle, T. J. Burns, Michael McKenna, B. B. Snodgrass, H. Fred Einspahr, W. E. Houston, W. J. Willars, C. R. Hohlfeld, Aaron F. Powers, Charles Grebe, W. C. Hodges. D. C. Kerr, J. F. Fernow, J. H. Clute, Adam Reader, Ed Burton, F. J. Benedict, D. H. Ballard, J. C. Kay, W. M. Vastine, A. H. Cramer and W. A. Dilworth.
SUPERVISORS 1890
R. V. Shockey, D. II. Ballard, D. M. McElhinney, Ed Burton, A. F. Powers, F. J. Benedict, M. J. McKenna, W. H. Waldron, H. F. Einspahr, John Gordon, W. A. Dilworth, C. R. Hohlfeld, B. B. Snodgrass, J. P. Duncan, Ed F. Gettle, H. C. Minnix. W. P. Clawson, Thomas T. Jones, W. J. Willars, Lester Wormuth, W. M. Vastine and L. C. Lukins.
SUPERVISORS 1891
J. C. Woodworth, C. D. Jones, Fred Warner, Frank P'. Harmon, J. W. Thornton, William Huxtable, Peter II. Stewart, C. B. Hemple, J. II. Walker, B. F. Kernan. Jacob Bernhard, L. C. Lukins, Jesse Doty and Ephraim Fowler.
SUPERVISORS 1892
A. C. Moore, James Rooney, R. V. Shockey, E. Johnson, Lester Wormuth, W. J. Willars, Harvey E. Rose, C. H. Shufflebarger. John Gordon, S. M. Davis, F. J. Taylor, Thomas J. Cooperrider and D. H. Ballard.
37
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
SUPERVISORS 1893
W. H. Waldron, John H. Walker, E. T. Winter, W. T. John- son, H. E. Rose, P. J. Schmitz, Fred Wagner, A. R. Pearson, George W. Maxwell, John Evans and A. T. Shattuck. The two latter were appointed.
SUPERVISORS 1894
W. II. Waldron, Dayton HI. Ballard, H. G. Knights, R. V. Shockey, F. C. Kruger, E. Johnson, A. T. Shattuck, E. L. Dutton, Jacob Wooster, John Gordon, Thomas J. Cooperrider, M. A. Cruse and C. B. Bigelow.
SUPERVISORS 1895
W. H. Stephens, B. F. Schlegel, John Evans, George W. Max- well, Elijah T. Winter, W. B. Brown, P. J. Schmitz, W. T. John- son and C. L. Alexander.
SUPERVISORS 1895 (SELECTED BY LOT SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER)
District No. 1, E. T. Winter; No. 2. W. H. Stephens; No. 3, M. A. Cruse; No. 4, E. L. Dutton; No. 5, Jacob Wooster; No. 6, R. V. Shockey; No. 7, C. L. Alexander.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1896
District No. 1, W. II. Waldron; No. 2, Albert N. Hall; No. 3, B. F. Schlegel; No. 4, W. T. Johnson ; No. 5, C. J. Button; No. 6, R. V. Shockey; No. 7, C. L. Alexander.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1897 -
Thomas J. Cooperrider, District No. 1; Francis Phillips, District No. 3; C. J. Button, District No. 5; C. L. Alexander, District No. 7.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1898
Will Brookley, District No. 2; W. T. Johnson, District No. 4; Charles W. Wilson, District No. 6.
38
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1899
G. H. La Monte, Francis Phillips, W. W. Miles and T. J. Cooperrider.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1900
Jolin Evans, W. H. Palmer and Charles W. Wilson.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1901
W. W. Miles, Francis Phillips, G. H. La Monte and M. H. Drollinger.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1902
District No. 2, A. P. Slack; District No. 4, John Evans: District No. 6. William M. Vastine.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1903
District No. 5, Jacob Wooster; District No. 7, George H. La Monte; District No. 1, M. H. Drollinger: District No. 3, J. C. Gilmore.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1904
District No. 2, W. E. Shaver: District No. 4, John V. Beardsley; District No. 6, William M. Vastine.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1905
District No. 1, Charles E. Hill; District No. 5, Jacob Wooster: District No. 6, R. V. Shockey; District No. 7, H. C. Kerr; District No. 3. J. C. Gilmore.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1906
District No. 6. D. H. Wentworth: District No. 2. W. E. Shaver; District No. 4, John V. Beardsley.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1907
District No. 5. R. B. Williams: District No. 7, Henry C. Kerr; District No. 1. C. A. Huxtable; District No. 3. W. H. Long.
39
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1908
District No. 2. Thomas G. Whiting; District No. 4, Frank Ver- saw; District No. 6, D. H. Wentworth; District No. 5, Luther Eglehoff.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1909
District No. 5, Luther Eglehoff; District No. 7, H. C. Kerr; District No. 1. T. S. Hampton: District No. 3, W. H. Long.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1910
District No. 2, T. G. Whiting; District No. 4, F. E. Versaw ; District No. 6, A. K. Deffenbaugh.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1911
District No. 1, C. E. Hill: District No. 3, W. H. Long; District No. 5. J. F. Heiler; District No. 7, N. D. Kidder.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1912
District No. 2, John Heye (resigned September 1, 1915, and E. N. George appointed) ; District No. 4, J. L. Hynes; District No. 6, F. J. Benedict.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1913
District No. 1. D. M. Bitner: District No. 3. B. F. Schlegel; District No. 5, J. F. Heiler; District No. 7, N. D. Kidder.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1914
Odd numbered districts for four years. District No. 5, J. F. Heiler; District No. 7, N. D. Kidder; District No. 1, D. M. Bitner; District No. 3, B. F. Schlegel.
SUPERVISORS ELECTED FOR 1916
Even numbered districts for four years. District No. 2, Thomas G. Whiting; District No. 4, J. L. Hynes; District No. 6, F. J.
40
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
Benedict. In the 1916 election J. L. Hynes and P. H. Gartner tied in the fourth district, each receiving 229 votes. Mr. Hynes won in the drawing.
In the cases in the foregoing table where even numbered districts elect supervisors in the same years as the odd numbered, or vice versa, it is to fill a vacancy caused by the death or resignation of a supervisor.
CHAPTER IV
COUNTY SEAT REMOVAL
Juniata became the seat of government of Adams County by the vote of the people cast at the first election held in the county. The date of this election; was December 12, 1871, and the home of Titus Babcock at Juniata was the polling place. Of the twenty-nine votes cast, Juniata received twenty-eight. One vote was cast for Kings- ton. Kingston was a homestead near the Little Blue and the inhab- itants of the southern part of the county entertained hope of establishing a town there. Kingston did not develop beyond the small general merchandise store which flourished for a number of years. It is possible, however, that it would have received more votes at the first election were it not that a number of voters from that section were not allowed to cast their ballot, on the ground that they had failed to register. There is no doubt, however, that in any event Juniata would have polled the larger vote.
It should be remembered that at the time of this election there was no railroad in Adams County. The Burlington was extending its line westward from Plattsmouth, but for the moment it was not at all preposterous for any community or homestead to hope for a location favorable to a townsite. The vote for Kingston shows that at even so early a date as that of the first election there was lack of unanimity as to the location of the county seat, and this only angured the long and in some respects bitter struggle that was to follow. The contenders in that struggle were Hastings and Juniata.
There is nothing to indicate that when Walter Micklem, on Octo- ber 1, 1872, began surveying his homestead into a townsite that composed the original Town of Hastings, he had any thought that the town that might develop from the nucleus composed of the three or four business houses then in operation would one day contend against Juniata for the already established county seat. Mr. Mick- lem's reason for surveying a townsite is to be found in the building of the St. Joseph & Denver, now St. Joseph & Grand Island, Rail- road, into Hastings. Mr. Micklem might reasonably expect that at
41
42
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
the junction of this road with the Burlington a thriving town might grow. The St. Joseph & Denver was completed into Hastings during September, 1872.
It was the intention of the builders of the latter road to extend their line to Denver. It was lack of funds to carry out that project that led them to abandon it. It was on April 17, 1872, that E. E. Brown, representing the St. Joseph & Denver road, appeared before the Adams County commissioners at Juniata and asked them to pro- vide $75,000 in county bonds for the assistance of his railroad. He promised that if the bonds asked for should carry, the road would complete twenty-five miles of its line in Adams County by January 1, 1873. The commissioners, S. L. Brass, Edwin M. Allen and Wellington W. Selleck, responded by ordering a special election for May 27th. At the election the bonds did not carry, and it is probable that the failure of the bonds to carry was the principal reason why Juniata ultimately lost the county seat; at least the issue of the elec- tion was one of the prime factors. But a number of the leaders in Juniata argued, and with seeming plausibility, that the St. Joseph & Denver would come to the county without the voting of bonds, inas- much as Adams County lay in the path of the proposed route, and there was no doubt in their minds that it would choose for business reasons to cross the Burlington at Juniata, which was already a promising village and the county seat. Without bonds the new road did enter Adams County, but it crossed the Burlington not at Juniata but at Hastings. No doubt the activity of Juniata pioneers in defeating the bonds influenced the St. Joseph to avoid the young county seat and to enter Hastings. Having acquired two railroads, Hastings naturally felt the stirrings of ambition. To foster this feeling there was also the fact that voters in the southern and central portions of the county had not been favorable to Juniata in the first election.
This feeling was crystallized in many conversations on the streets of Hastings and in the few business houses. On the 24th of May, 1873, the Hastings Journal was issued from the press, and thence- forth the ambition of Hastings was assisted by the printed word. This paper was published by M. K. Lewis and A. L. Wigton and was active in seeking the submission of the question of the removal of the county seat to a vote of the people.
Less than a month after the founding of the Hastings Journal, on June 3, 1873, a mass meeting was held in Hastings to consider plans for the removal of the county seat. This meeting resulted in the formulating of a machine well organized to carry out the work
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.