USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 27
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
279
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
on the south by Polk and Butler counties; on the south and west by Butler Township; and on the west by Oconee Township.
Here are to be found some of the best farming lands in South Platte. One-half of the soil is rich black loam and one-half mixed with sand. There being abundance of water, the lands are well drained and the advantages of stockraising are numerous and have always been made use of.
Patrick Murray was probably the first person to begin farming in Columbus Township, and mention of his eventful life and that of his family already appears elsewhere in this work. This may also be said of other families locating in the township outside of Columbus. The history of the township is practically identical with that of Columbus, and those identified with its history already have been given their proper place.
CHAPTER XXI COLUMBUS-CONTINUED
POSTOFFICE
Among other sacrifices which the settlers of a new country have been called upon to experience was the absence of mail facilities. The little colony that set its stakes at Columbus was no exception to this almost invariable rule. The nearest and most available trading point was Fort Calhoun (Omaha), almost one hundred miles away, and for some time, when letters or papers were received, they were obtained by sending one or more of the most hardy of the colonists to Fort Calhoun for the purpose.
The postoffice was established in Columbus, January 6, 1857, at which time John Rickly was appointed to preside over it. The mail was first carried from Columbus to Omaha by Postmaster Rickly, the journey being made to and fro with an ox team. It was not until July 4, 1857, that the first consignment of mail to the postoffice arrived in the county seat. "The day and the circumstance was made a matter of rejoicing, George W. Hewitt being the principal orator on that occasion. There was quite a crowd but the male element pre- dominated most decidedly. Mrs. John C. Wolfel, Mrs. Peter Myer, and Miss Caroline Rickly, who afterwards married William B. Dale. were there, and the prodigies in the line of cooking turned out was something tremendous in the eyes of the hungry." When the postmas- ter was unable to accomplish the journey himself he deputized his son, John J. Thus it seems that when the postoffice was first established here the official in charge was compelled to travel all the way to Omaha for mail from eastern states destined for Columbus, bring it back to his office and distribute it to the patrons thereof.
On the 2d day of June, 1858, F. G. Becher, who was then keep- ing a little general store with his father, in a crude and diminutive log cabin, received his commission from Washington and became the suc- cessor in office of John Rickly. During his incumbency the Great
280
POST OFFICE, COLUMBUS
UNION PACIFIC DEPOT, COLUMBUS
281
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
Western Stage Company had commenced carrying the mail by way of Fontenelle, the frequency of the journeys being increased to a semi- weekly service to Fort Kearney, and daily to Omaha. The former change was made in 1859 and the latter in 1860. This company was a branch of the famous pony express and when established the people of Columbus felt that they were at last in regular communication with the outside world.
Postmaster Becher's successors in this office were as follows, namely: John Reck, whose commission was of date December 5, 1862; J. P. Becker, May 11, 1863; H. J. Hudson, November 25, 1864; O. T. B. Williams, April 13, 1866; Bishop B. Kelley, October 27, 1867; Hugh Compton, March 19, 1869; J. G. Compton, October 26, 1875; L. M. Saley, July 18, 1877; E. A. Gerrard, March 18, 1878; H. J. Hudson, February 7, 1883; William N. Hensley, October 5, 1885; Carl Kramer, August 29, 1889; D. F. Davis, November 1, 1893; Carl Kramer, June 15, 1897; W. A. McAllister, January 13, 1911.
On the 2d day of December, 1911, the present magnificent federal building was occupied and opened to the public by the present post- master, W. A. McAllister. He had moved the effects of the office from a building on Thirteenth Street, now occupied by the hardware firm of Perkins & Anderson, where the office had been established something like ten years. The construction of the new home of the postoffice was begun in 1909. The material used is a light sandstone and the design is architecturally tasteful and pleasing to the eye. With a deep basement the structure is practically two stories, the main entrance being reached by a flight of wide stone steps. Wide corridors, beautified by marble paneling, richly finished wood trim- mings, and painted walls, are inviting and convenient for the patrons of this much used public utility. The building faces to the east and stands on the corner of North and Fourteenth streets; there is also an entrance on the latter thoroughfare. Beautiful offices have been provided each for the postmaster and his assistant and the mailing room is commodious and equipped with every modern device now in use for that department of the service. Considerable space in the basement is devoted to the comfort and pleasure of the city and rural carriers. Here are to be found reading rooms, baths, and toilet rooms. There are also apartments for the accumulation of articles pertinent to the business. Here also are the heating apparatus and large vaults for the storage of fuel. The site consists of two lots, which were pur- chased of Hugh Hughes, the consideration being $5,000. The cost Vol. 1-18
282
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
of the building was $65,000. The postmaster has under his jurisdic- tion a large office force, also five city carriers and six rural mail car- riers.
HOSTELRIES
American Hotel
The first hotel erected in Columbus was built and owned by the town company. It cost $5,000 and J. L. Baker as host threw open its doors to the public in August, 1857. The building stood a few blocks south of the courthouse and was a two-story frame and consid- ered to be a very pretentious affair at that time and for some years afterward. Portions of the old hostelry were used in constructing the framework of the Grand Pacific Hotel.
The Hammond House
The old Hammond House had an interesting history. It was erected at Cleveland, the rival town laid out in 1857 by George W. Stevens, William II. Stevens, Michael Sweeny and others, who as the Cleveland Company laid out the town about two and a half miles northwest of Columbus. In 1866 George Francis Train put the hotel upon rollers, brought it to Columbus and set it down on the corner of Olive and Twelfth streets, where the Meridian Hotel now stands. When finished it is said that hotel cost $30,000. All the lumber was hauled from Florence, at a cost of over one hundred dollars per thousand. The price of the painting alone was $1,800 and the plas- tering $1,000. By contract, Train reserved one room for the presi- dent of the United States and one subject to the order of the Union Pacific Railroad. The building has long since passed away as have many of those intimately connected with its fortunes. Among its hosts may be mentioned I. N. Taylor, C. D. Clother, Abel Coffee, Mrs. Flowers, James Hudson, and E. V. Clark. John Hammond came from Albion, in April, 1873, took possession of the house, and became widely known as a hospitable and accommodating boniface. He had a splendid Civil war record and after retiring from the hotel became commander of the Soldiers' Home at Grand Island.
The Clother House
The Clother House, when built in 1869, was considered one of the best stopping places for travelers in this section of Nebraska. The
283
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
building was erected by C. D. Clother, who for many years, with the assistance of his son, G. W. Clother, was the efficient and pains- taking landlord. Among others who have been in charge of this hotel is George W. Scott, now part owner and manager of The Evans. The building is of wood, two stories high, and has accommodations for about seventy-five guests. It stands on the corner of Platte and Twelfth streets, and is under the operation of T. W. Adams.
Grand Pacific Hotel
This house was built in the fall of 1879 by George Lehman. It was opened by Charles Pruyn, who continued until the following October, when its doors were closed and remained so until March, 1880, when the owner opened it and retained the management until January 1, 1881; at that time Capt. Joshua Norton, Jr., took pos- session. The building is of brick, cost about five thousand dollars and is two and a half stories high. It is located on Ninth and Olive streets.
Thurston Hotel
The Thurston, a large, three-story brick structure, which stands on the northeast corner of Thirteenth and North streets, was built by a coterie of business men, known as the Columbus Improvement Company, in 1888, at a cost of $21,000. The Thurston was opened on March 4, 1889, by John Pollock, who was the landlord for some years, and then through stress of circumstances gave over to others. Up to quite recently the Thurston was the leading hotel of Columbus, but was compelled to take a back seat by a new rival in the field -- the Evans. Notwithstanding this, however, this is a popular hostelry and commands a large and remunerative patronage. Gansko & Kochenderfer are the present managers.
The Evans
When George A. Scott sold the Clother Hotel he decided that he had earned a much desired rest from the arduous duties of hotel management, but after traveling around two or three years, and find- ing his occupation gone, he became interested with Dr. Carroll D. Evans, Jackson C. Echols, Theodore Friedhof and G. W. Phillips in the erection of a model hotel for his home town. The result is the Evans Hotel. On the 29th day of May, 1912, the Evans Hotel
284
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $75,000, and before the year 1913 had expired, the present magnificent four-story brick structure was built, finished and ready for occupancy. At 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, on the 2d day of December, 1913, this modern fireproof hostelry was formally opened, with most fitting ceremonies. The event long had been looked forward to by the citi- zens of Columbus and the opening was participated in by a large gathering of friends and acquaintances of the owner-manager and his associate builders. A committee of ladies was on hand to receive them and young ladies acted as guides to those who inspected the house from cellar to roof. A continual stream of visitors flowed through the building all afternoon and was entertained by music from Walter Brothers Orchestra. Light refreshments were served in the way of punch and wafers. Among others present may be mentioned a com- mittee of the United Commercial Travelers, headed by John E. Erskine, and followed by Frank Schram, Mark Rathburn, M. D. Carr, M. E. Helms, Henry A. Fritz, Harry Elliott, Herman Kersen- brock, Lloyd Swain, C. A. Randall, W. J. Walters, and others. The wives of the U. C. T. members and of the building company consti- tuted the ladies' committee. There were others here on this auspicious occasion. A party of twenty-four, led by Secretary Whitten of the Lincoln Commercial Club, came in time to attend the evening cere- monies. George Wolz, of the Fremont Commercial Club, was there, as were Fred C. Ratcliff, of the Ratcliff Hotel, Central City, and a delegation from Omaha, consisting of P. H. Philbin, of the Schlitz, T. J. O'Brien, of the Henshaw, I. A. Medlar and R. D. McFaddan, of the Mid-West Hotel Reporter.
The hotel was named for Doctor Evans, who is the Nestor of his profession in Columbus and a heavy stockholder in the building. The president of the Evans Hotel Company is George A. Scott; vice president, Dr. C. D. Evans; secretary-treasurer, J. C. Echols.
The Evans Hotel is good enough, nice enough and expensive enough for anybody or any community. It is so modern, massive and attractive as to call forth the admiration of all beholders. The interior arrangements, finish, decorations, furnishings and conven- iences follow the lines of the best constructed, thoroughly equipped and scientifically managed hotels of the great cities of this country. Everything to be found in the Evans is made of the very best mate- rials, not excepting the provender set before the guests in a most cheery and inviting dining room. The location is par excellence. Standing on the northwest corner of Platte and Thirteenth streets, it
285
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
faces the park, is in close proximity of the whole business district and but a few steps from the Union Pacific depot.
AMUSEMENT PLACES
The first building erected in Columbus for distinctive amusement purposes was a music hall, built in 1878, in the southeast part of the city. On the 15th day of January, 1876, the Columbus Music Hall Association was incorporated by W. H. Heinemann, C. A. Speice, J. E. North, A. Gluck, Vincent Kummer, Michael Schram, F. Brod- fuehrer, D. D. Wadsworth, John Stauffer, Charles Schroeder, E. W. Toncray, A. N. Briggs, Dr. Alfonso Heintz, Francis G. Becher and M. K. Turner. The capitalization was $5,000, in shares of $100 each, and "the object of the incorporators was to build and sustain a hall in the City of Columbus, to be used for entertainments, or for any legiti- mate purpose as the board of directors might determine." In Septem- ber, 1878, a large wooden building, with seating capacity of 500, stage, scenery, etc., was completed at a cost of $4,000. J. E. North was president of the company and C. A. Speice, secretary.
On May 12, 1882, the Columbus Opera House Company was incorporated by John Stauffer, Charles Schroeder, Carl Reinke, Dr. Alfonso Heintz, William A. Schroeder and R. H. Henry. Capital stock, $6,000. This company erected a large frame building on the corner of Tenth and Lewis streets, and this was the popular and leading theater, dance hall and place for general entertainments a great many years. When abandoned for the purpose, it became the home of the Orpheus Society.
The North Opera House, a three-story modern brick structure, was built in 1901, by James E. North. On the ground floor are business rooms, to the east and west of a wide entresol and lobby leading to the auditorium of the opera house. The upper floors are given over to office and business purposes. The North is the pride of the amusement loving people of Columbus and meets with the ap- proval of theatrical people appearing upon the stage. The capacity is ample for a town the size of Columbus, the parquet, dress circle and gallery seating about one thousand people.
INDUSTRIES PAST AND PRESENT
The Rickly saw-and-grist mill, built in 1857, was the beginning of industrial Columbus, although it was not first located within the
286
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
corporate limits of the town. It was finally removed from its old stand on the banks of the Loup, however, to a spot on Seventh Street.
Columbus cannot be said to be an industrial center, for the reason that it is practically devoid of manufactories of any great importance. The chief dependence of its people is on the rich and richly pro- ductive community surrounding it. As a trading and shipping point it stands well up in the list of Nebraska's progressive cities. Years back in its history the smoke from the chimneys of several manufac- tories mingled with the pure prairie atmosphere of this place, but that condition has faded away and the industries are no more.
A very important concern was established here when John Wig- gins, David Anderson, S. D. Corry, R. H. Henry and Leander Gerrard organized the Columbus Packing Company and incorporated the same with a capital of $50,000, on October 19, 1881. Before the month had expired work of construction of the building was well along and by the 1st of December it was completed. The building was two stories. It was a frame, with inside walls of brick. In dimensions the main part was 40x70 feet, with an L 24x24 feet. It was located at the crossing of the Union Pacific and Burlington & Missouri railroads, and had a capacity of 250 hogs per day. Early in December the institution was in full blast, with equipment com- plete for slaughtering, curing and shipping its product. An average of fifteen men were constantly employed under the superintendency of S. D. Corry. The plant was later enlarged to a capacity of 500 hogs per day, owing to the large supply of stock in the county and vicinity, waiting for the home market. The establishment was run three seasons by the proprietors, and one by a lessee. As many as ten thousand hogs were slaughtered in a season, involving a disburse- ment of $100,000, not including wages paid to employes, of which there were some thirty to forty men and boys during the packing season. The building was destroyed by fire, August 22, 1891, and was a total loss, there being no insurance. This closed the pork pack- ing business in Columbus.
In 1868, the first steam flouring mill was built in Columbus by F. A. Hoffman. Up to this time but very little wheat was raised in the county, but the mill inspired the farmers to increase their acreage of this cereal and soon the raising of wheat became one of the prin- cipal industries in this section of the country. Unfortunately, the foundations of the boiler and engine of the Hoffman mill were located in a very deep basement and sunk by their weight in the quicksand. This disaster caused the mill to be abandoned in 1869.
287
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
The building was then converted into a grain elevator and in 1874 it was sold to a company consisting of Abner Turner, George W. Hulst, J. A. Baker and J. P. Becker. Baker bought it from his partners two years later, and conducted it a number of years. The elevator had a capacity of 15,000 bushels, and stood between the Burlington & Missouri and Union Pacific tracks.
In the early '80s the firm of Jaeggi & Schupbach built a mill on North Street, near the Union Pacific tracks, which is still in operation. In front of the building a one-story brick structure was erected for office purposes. In 1885, the old elevator, which stood south of the Union Pacific tracks, was moved to the mill and was made a part of it. The mill is still in operation.
In the spring of 1885, the Columbus Milling Company was incor- porated by J. H. Ilogan, president; G. E. Schroeder, secretary and treasurer; J. E. Wilson and Charles Schroeder, directors. The com- pany completed the mill building in November of that year, erecting it just south of the main Union Pacific tracks, in the east part of the city. This was considered one of the most complete mills in the state, having a capacity of 150 barrels per day, and the property, it is said, originally cost $40,000. A Brush are and incandescent light system was installed, the arc light having a capacity of 1,200 candle power. Having more than sufficient light and power for its own use, the milling company furnished light for the city. This was the begin- ning of electric lighting in Columbus.
The Columbus Foundry was established early in the year 1874, by Charles Schroeder. The buildings, which were frame, extended over an area of 132x66 feet. The shop contained a full set of machinist's tools, drills, lathes and planers; also necessary machinery for the foundry, in which were manufactured iron fences, bedsteads, stoves, wheels for chain pumps, and, in short, many other things, including well-boring machinery, and windmills on contract. In addition to his foundry business, Charles Schroeder also made wagons and bug- gies, turning out as high as from seventy-five to one hundred vehicles a year.
The Columbus Creamery Association was incorporated November 4, 1881, by M. Whitmoyer, H. P. Smith, E. A. Gerrard, J. W. Early, J. P. Becker, V. T. Price, Leander Gerrard, William T. Ransdell, David Anderson, Carl Kramer, Jacob Z. Shotwell. Capital stock, $12,000. A creamery was erected, upon which several thousand dol- lars was expended, and for some years the company continued opera- tions.
288
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
The only industrial concerns now in operation in Columbus of any great local importance are two flouring and grist mills, an im- mense grain elevator, controlled by T. B. Horde & Co .; the electric light plant and the gas works. Of course the city has a brewery, which came into existence in 1866, when Charles Bremer, its founder, arrived here. The Bremers conducted this industry a number of years. In 1880 Joseph Henggler and Martin Jetter, proprietors, erected new buildings, and increased the capacity of the plant to. 3,000 barrels of beer per annum. The malt house had a capacity of 6,000 bushels. On December 19, 1904, the Columbus Brewing Com- pany was incorporated by George Rambour, Frank Valasek and Ben V. Walter. The president of the company is W. J. Walter, and the plant stands on the old location in the southeast part of the city.
BANKS
The national bank system furnishes the best currency the country has ever had, though there are now generations of young business men who know practically nothing of paper currency except a green- back and bank notes, secured by Government bonds. Their elders can recall the inconvenience of the wildcat banking system of another age. A man starting upon a journey with his pockets full of the notes of banks was not so certain that his money would be good when he got a hundred miles from home and when he went to bed at night he was not sure that it would be good in the morning. Such was the system prevailing at the time of the organization of Nebraska Terri- tory. It is not probable that the first Legislature was disposed to charter any such institutions. A bill was introduced and passed granting a charter to the Wetern Exchange and Fire and Marine Insurance Company, authorizing them to issue policies on fire and marine risks and one section authorizing the company to receive deposits and issue certificates therefor. The place of business was Omaha City and among the incorporators was Thomas H. Benton, Jr., then superintendent of public instruction of Iowa. The company never issued a policy of insurance, but erected a good building and had certificates of deposit printed on bank note paper reading:
"The Western Exchange and Fire and Marine Insurance Com- pany will pay to the bearer . dollars deposited by . (the name of some stockholder filling the blank) on presentation of this certificate. Signed, Thomas H. Benton, Jr., president; L. R. Tuttle, secretary."
289
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
The stockholders of the company had the confidence of Nebraska and Western Iowa and they had no trouble in floating their notes. They transacted a regular banking business, receiving deposits and selling exchange. Leroy Tuttle was manager and there were em- ployed two young men as tellers, one of whom afterwards became treasurer of the United States.
The second Legislature chartered five banks-the Bank of Flor- ence, the Platte Valley Bank of Bellevue, the National Bank of Nebraska at Omaha, the Nemaha Valley Bank of Brownsville, and one at Nebraska City.
These bills bore on the margin "Stockholders individually relia- ble," which was facetiously translated "bill holders individually relia- ble." A Nebraska bank note would not pass east of the Mississippi River. In one eastern city a few bills were inadvertently taken in by firms and through a mutual friend were sent to Columbus to be exchanged for eastern money. The Bank of Florence, the National of Nebraska and Western Exchange were considered to have the most wealthy stockholders and were preferred. The man who had been sheriff of Douglas County wished to make a visit to his old home in Illinois, and desiring to borrow money from one of the Omaha banks, they loaned it with the agreement that it should be in their notes, which he should get in circulation in that state. On reflection, the man was afraid that he might not be able to use their money when he got there, so he took the crisp new notes they had given him and crumpled and soiled them until they looked like old ones and got a friend to present them to the bank for redemption. In those days a part of the money in circulation were the notes of the Agricultural Bank of Tennessee, which had on them the stamp of Andrew J. Stevens & Co., brokers of Des Moines, promising to redeem them at his bank in that place which gave them credit. The Andrew J. Stevens mentioned was one of Columbus' enterprising but unfortunate townsmen.
When the Bank of Nebraska was opened a young man was em- ployed as teller, whose name was D. H. Moffatt, Jr.
At the third session of the Legislature a batch of new bank char- ters was passed and all vetoed by the governor. The charter for the Bank of Tekamah was passed over this charter. This was in the session of 1856-57. The following summer the panic came and the banks disappeared. The Bank of Tekamah got out a few notes, which in a month or two were valuable chiefly for bookmarks. For a while all the money was Omaha scrip, then Iowa organized a system
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.