USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 31
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A remonstranee to this petition was signed by E. A. Gerrard and nine others, but at a meeting held by the board of supervisors, Decem- ber 22, 1899, that body found that the petition for the incorporation of the Village of Monroe should be granted, as all the requirements of the law in such cases had been fulfilled. The board also appointed G. L. Humphrey, R. G. Strother, Garrett Hulst, C. W. Hollings- head and W. E. Cole, trustees of the village, to hold their offices and to perform the duties required of them by law as such trustees until their successors should be elected and qualified.
Monroe is now a town of about three hundred population and is fourteen miles from Columbus, the county seat. The principal in- dustries are general farming, stoek-raising, the production of various kinds of seed and the culture of sugar beets. The village has a splendid system of waterworks, built some five or six years ago by the corporation and a little electric light plant, installed in a garage. The business center consists of a number of one-story buildings. There
HIGH SCHOOL, MONROE
NEW STEEL WAGON BRIDGE, MONROE
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is a bank, three general stores, a hotel kept by one of the Gerrards, a meat market, a millinery store, lumberyard, barber shop, seed estab- lishment, hardware and implement store, a drug store, furniture store, two restaurants, harness shop, two grain elevators, two blacksmith shops, a livery stable, good schools, employing three teachers, com- fortable church building, two newspapers, and a physician. There are also two long distance and one local telephone systems. The latter was organized here in 1903 and incorporated with a capital of $60,000. It has several exchanges and a long list of patrons.
POSTOFFICE
In the old Village of Monroe, of which there is not a vestige in existence, was established a postoffice on May 3, 1858, with Robert P. Kimball in charge. This later was removed to the present town. The names of Mr. Kimball's successors follow: John Kelly, July 17, 1862; Joseph Gerrard, November 25, 1864; William T. Strother, December 7, 1870; Charles W. Zeigler, June 30, 1871 ; Barclay Jones, June 20, 1872; Cynthia N. Thurston, January 17, 1878; William HI. Kellow, November 17, 1879; T. C. Kennard, September 16, 1881; John Swisher, June 29, 1883; George W. Alverson, June 16, 1884; L. J. Hollingshead, July 24, 1884; E. S. Osborne, August 29, 1888; C. C. Cummins, November 13, 1889; R. A. Vickers, November 2, 1893; L. J. Hendryx, November 25, 1895; R. G. Strother, May 22, 1897; C. W. Talbitzer, July 10, 1908; L. S. Wood, August 6, 1914.
THE BANK OF MONROE
The Bank of Monroe has authority for doing business in a charter issued in 1892, with an authorized capital of $24,000, $6,000 of which was paid up. The incorporators were Joseph and William Dexter, of Monroe, and George W. Snow, Reuben Groot and Charles Hill, of Springfield, S. D. The bank opened for business August 15, 1892, with Joseph Webster, president, and William Webster, cashier. In 1894 the paid-up capital was increased to $10,000, and at that time the surplus was $4,000. Joseph Webster died in January, 1900, when William Webster succeeded to the presidency, and Howard J. Hill became cashier. Present officials: Rodney Hill, president and acting cashier; R. E. Wiley, vice president ; directors, Paul Gertsch, William Kummer, G. S. Hill. Capital, $15,000; surplus and undivided profits, $6,500; deposits, $128,000.
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CHURCHES
Monroe has several strong church organizations, with auxiliary societies. The Monroe Presbyterian Church was organized and incor- porated in 1890 with eleven members, Rev. Thomas L. Sexton, syn- odical missionary, presiding at the meeting. E. A. Gerrard was chosen clerk, Martin T. Strother, Martin A. Voorhees and John M. Kelley, trustees. The first meetings were held in a schoolhouse and the present building, costing about $3,200, was completed in 1893; the belfry was added in 1903.
At a conference of members of the Society of Friends, held in Platte County, near Genoa, on the fifth month, 26th day, of 1877, for the purpose of perfecting a religious organization, George S. Trueman was appointed clerk for the day. The following minute was on consideration adopted and directed to be signed by the clerk and forwarded to Prairie Grove quarterly meeting, and also file a copy thereof with the clerk, as required by law: "That, composed as we are in most widely scattered meetings and at the same time at too great a distance from any organized meeting, with the members of which we might possibly unite, in conducting the affairs of the society, but desirous of a close bonded unison, by which the more regular and fraternal spirit of right order may be maintained, we do therefore unite in the formation of a meeting for discipline, to be called Genoa Monthly Meeting of Friends, and to be held on the 7th day of each month, at 2 P. M., commencing in the eighth month next, together with a meeting for worship on first days at the same hour. That with the consent and approbation of Prairie Grove Quarterly Meeting, this meeting shall become auxiliary to that body and will be governed by the discipline of Illinois Yearly Meeting. And for the further carrying out of the object of this meeting, two per- sons shall be appointed to the positions of clerks and one as treasurer for one year, two persons to serve as trustees for the care of the property of the meeting, which may be committed to them and to hold this position until in the judgment of the meeting a change may be necessary." Signed, George S. Trueman, J. Z. Shotwell, William E. Walton, William B. Coffin, Barclay Jones, Mercy K. Cooper, Susan Y. Trueman, Nettie K. Trueman, Joseph L. True- man. George S. Trueman, clerk.
The first meetings of the society were held in a schoolhouse near the location of the present meeting house, which was erected in 1887. Many of the most influential citizens of Monroe and vicinity became
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MONROE
METHODIST CHURCH, MONROE
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identified with this church, of which there are but two organizations in the state-one at Monroe, and the other at Lincoln.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Monroe in August, 1901, by Rev. H. II. Millard, presiding elder for the district. The first members were C. W. Hollingshead and wife, Mrs. Leuzena J. Hollingshead, Sarah A. Lenon, Rev. John S. Lenon, George Lewis, Jennie Lewis, Max Miller, Mary Miller.
Probably the first Methodist minister to preach in Monroe was Reverend Wilson. Then came Reverend Foote, who died before the end of the year. Rev. Moses Anderson took charge in May, 1902. and during his term $400 was subscribed for the church building. Rev. H. C. Preston was in charge here in 1903, and during his min- istrations the construction of the present church building was begun early in the year, and on the 19th of April, 1903, the church was dedicated. Rev. A. J. Hutchinson followed, and his successor was W. J. Brient, who was here as late as 1909. Ward Morris then occupied the pulpit six months, when M. W. Rose took up the work and was here in 1912. Bert Hooper, a student, preached here about six months, G. H. Phillips followed him, also John W. Starr, who was here one year. The present pastor is William Gornal.
The Trinity Episcopal Church was organized here as a mission about the year 1899 by Rev. C. A. Weed, of Columbus. J. R. Smith, Sr., was the first warden. A very tastefully designed little frame church building was erected in 1900, on a lot donated by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hill. The completed building was dedicated June 18th of that year.
The Monroe Congregational Church was probably organized before any other church society existed here. The present church building was dedicated June 8, 1881, and stands about 712 miles northwest of town, on a high hill, near a very pretty cemetery.
THE SEED GROWING INDUSTRY AT MONROE
The industry of growing vine seed and select varieties of corn exclusively for seed purposes has reached large proportions in the United States, and one of the largest seed contractors in the West is authority for the statement that Nebraska has for some years shipped a larger share of the total production than any other state, a fact which is worthy a place in the memory of each of our readers.
Some ten years ago a farmer living south of Monroe planted an acre of ground to cucumbers, and when the crop was ripe and had
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been gathered, by dint of much labor he separated the seeds from the pulp by washing them in a barrel, and the result netted about two hundred dollars from the single acre of ground. It is said that this experience marked the beginning of the seed business at Monroe. But the old way has now given place to labor saving methods, and seed crops are handled on a much larger scale than formerly. A few days ago one farmer brought six wagon loads of cucumber seed to town for shipment. The six loads represented a value of about three thousand dollars, and is but a small portion of that ship- per's crop.
The seed business of this vicinity is really limited to three crops: cucumbers, squash and field corn, and of the three the first named probably yields the best profit to the grower. A conservative estimate of the local acreages indicates about 1,000 acres of field corn for seed, 300 acres of cucumbers and nearly 350 acres of squash. In large fields of squash an average yield of 250 pounds of seed per acre is considered very good. A field very seldom yields less than 100 pounds per acre, and some fields of a few acres are this year averaging over 400 pounds. Cucumbers yield more seed, usually from 100 to 500 and even as much as 600 pounds to the acre. The seed from Hub- bard squash usually sells at about 25 cents per pound, and cucumber seed at from 20 cents to 25 cents, varying according to variety and the law of supply and demand. Basing our figures on this year's average yield of 300 pounds of cucumber seed and 225 pounds of squash seed to the acre, a conservative estimate of the value of these two crops this season is $22,500 for the former and $16,000 for the latter, or a total of $38,500 received in 1905 from the sale of squash and cucumber seed raised in this immediate vicinity alone. This means about eighty tons of sced. The business is each year assuming larger proportions.
The production of seeds on a large scale is a business of which the average layman knows about as much as most Nebraskans know about the production of cotton. To those whose experience with cucumbers has been limited to the gastronomic enjoyment of "One of the 57" or to the weeding of a few bug infested vines in the back garden. a little description of methods may be of interest.
The soil is prepared for the crop in about the same way as for a crop of corn. The planting begins about the 20th of May. and is all done by the 10th of June. When the work is done with a corn planter the seeds are planted in hills or checks, about fifteen seeds to the hill, and covered with about one inch of soil. When the plants
VIEWS OF THE SEED GROWING INDUSTRY, MONROE
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are up and have reached a growth of about six inches, so that danger from beetles is over, they are thinned to about five or six of the stronger plants to the hill. Sometimes in large fields fewer seeds to the hill are planted and no thinning is done. The crop receives about the same cultivation as corn, and when the vines have spread so as to be damaged by the cultivators the crop is "laid by," and after that receives about one hoeing.
When the crop is ripe harvesting begins, usually about the 15th of September, and must be finished before any hard freezes, as the crop rots quickly. A machine is provided which is operated by horse- power and consists of a large wooden cylinder revolving rapidly at the base of a hopper into which the cucumbers are shovelled to he crushed by the cylinder, the product then passing into a long hollow cylinder covered with coarse wire screening, which is geared to revolve slowly, and as the mixture works gradually from end to end of this cylinder pulp and seed passes through the meshes of the screen and is gathered in the bottom of the machine, thence running through a spout into a pit which has been previously prepared and lined with burlap. The waste product passes out at the open end of the hollow cylinder and is carried off by a chain carrier. About six or eight gathering wagons and twelve or fifteen men are required to keep this machine going. Another machine built on the same plan is sometimes used, but instead of being stationary the mechanism is geared to the truck wheels. A large force of men and boys is engaged in gathering the cucumbers into buckets, which are filled and left in rows. Six horses are attached to the machine and as it is driven along these rows an assistant on a low platform catches up the buckets without stopping the machine, dumps them into the hopper, and as the pulp is separated from the coarser product it is gathered in a tank at the base of the machine. Each time the machine makes a round of the field it is stopped at a pit situated at one end of the field, and the pulp which has gathered in the tank is run off into this pit.
After fermenting in the pits for about ten days, during which time it is frequently stirred, the pulp is taken to the washer and the seeds are separated from the waste. After fermentation the waste is lighter than the seeds, and when stirred violently in water it rises and passes off, leaving the seeds. The washing is sometimes done in sluices placed in running water, but the most satisfactory work is done in a plant where the mixture is violently agitated by a large volume of water under pressure from a centrifugal power pump. After being washed, the seeds are spread in burlap drying racks, and
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when perfectly dry are then ready to be sacked and shipped to the mill, there to be scoured. There is a large drying plant west of town in which hot air from a coke furnace is fed to a huge blower operated by a twelve horsepower engine, the air being forced into a passage way about 24 feet long, 10 feet high and 2 feet broad. The sides of the passage are a kind of vibrating double lattice of metal, and into this lattice the seeds are fed from above, the warm air being forced from the passage way through the seeds as they work to the floor. In this plant about two thousand pounds of seeds can be dried each twenty-four hours by two men.
The squash harvest is handled similarly except that the pulp is scooped out by hand, and without fermentation is immediately run through a thresher cylinder with a mixture of water, and the seeds are then ready to be washed, dried and shipped. The shells of the squash make splendid feed for cattle and hogs.
VILLAGE OF OCONEE
Lost Creek, now Oconee, was first platted February 5, 1880. This plat was vacated and replatted May 21, 1883. It is a station at the junction of the two branches of the Omaha, Niobrara & Black ITills road, and within a few months after its first settlement had a grain elevator, hotel, general store, livery, blacksmith shop, a church and schoolhouse, and about fifty people. At the last census the popu- lation was seventy-one.
In April, 1882, the Lost Creek correspondent of the Columbus Journal spoke of this little village as follows: "During the winter an excellent school was taught in this district, where a lyceum occu- pied an occasional evening and some other literary entertainments were given. On each Sunday a sermon or two was delivered. pastors from Columbus officiating. A new church was organized, called the Christian, or Disciples Church. This is the junction of two important railroads, one of which, the Norfolk branch, connects with leading branches of the north and east, and the Albion branch is fast reach- ing out into the heart of the great Northwest, and the line which connects this junction with the Union Pacific and Columbus, ten miles to the east."
Oconee is the junction of the Spalding & Albion and Norfolk branches of the Union Pacific, and has by reason thereof better mail facilities than any other station on the branches. The village is nine
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miles from Columbus and is in a rich agricultural territory. It has two grain elevators, a small general store and a lumberyard.
POSTOFFICE
A postoffice was first established here May 27, 1879, and called Lost Creek. It was presided over by Joseph Watts. The names of his successors follow: N. B. Olds, May 25, 1880; George F. Benedict, July 22, 1880; F. H. Gerrard, March 21, 1881; James Weatherbee, February 8, 1883; Mary A. Crookham, February 18, 1884. On the 10th day of September, 1885, the name of the office was changed to Dorrance. Mary A. Crookham remained in the office and on April 8, 1887, the name was again changed, this time to Oconee. On May 10, 1889, F. I. Colegrove was appointed post- master. Then in their order came William D. Wilson, December 26, 1891; W. H. Murdock, May 3, 1894; Fannie S. Murdock, May 21, 1897; A. J. McDougall, May 5, 1902; Otto T. Weber, February 14, 1903; Daniel Murdock, July 3, 1903; Emma Souther, August 14, 1913.
Vol. 1-21
CHAPTER XXV
GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP
Granville Township lies in the lower tier and has for its northern boundary line, Madison County; on the west is St. Bernard; south, Burrows, and east, Humphrey townships. It was erected in Sep- tember, 1875, the date of its organization to take effect on the 1st of January, 1876. The South Fork and Union Creeks water the western portion of its territory and along its eastern border is Tracy Creek. The Sioux City branch of the Union Pacific traverses the western border of the township and is crossed by the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, just south of the Town of Humphrey. Cornlea is a station on the last named road and is situated on sec- tion 29.
Among the early settlers here were William Eimers, William Ripp, Thomas Ottis, Sr., G. W. Clark, Carl Brandt, Herman Wendt, C. H. Graham, James A. Sloan, D. F. Dickinson, T. D. Robison, J. N. Wilson, Walter Mead, L. C. La Barre, L. B. Leach, R. P. Drake, Robert Uhlig, Herman F. Prange, Edward Steinhaus, H. C. Bender, L. S. Martin, John Ternus.
Most of these men first settled on farms and then turned their attention to town building, some establishing Humphrey on a firm foundation, and others giving Cornlea impetus toward future great- ness. They all builded well and their names are identified with the schools, the churches, banking institutions, mercantile houses and various other activities.
At a meeting of the members of the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Tracy Valley, of Platte County, duly called meeting at the schoolhouse in district No. 19, on the 26th of Decem- ber, 1875, for the purpose of electing a board of trustees for said Presbyterian Church, J. N. Wilson acting as chairman and Walter Mead clerk, the following named persons were unanimously elected : L. C. La Barre, L. B. Leach and Walter Mead. The latter was elected clerk.
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HUMPHREY
The progressive and thriving little City of Humphrey was laid out and platted November 25, 1880, by James E. North, county surveyor, for the Omaha, Niobrara and Black Hills Railroad Com- pany, per S. II. H. Clark, proprietor of the town site.
Soon after the town was established it had two drug stores, under the management of A. H. Potter and Joseph Ansline. Theo- dore Helmig & Co. later had an establishment of the same kind, oppo- site the postoffice. Two grain elevators were erected to take care of the incoming grain, and Chris Kersch had a cigar factory, giving employment to several men. There were two blacksmith shops, run by F. M. Cookingham and W. A. Hampton. Dr. W. M. Condon, dentist, soon got a foothold in the town. William Eimers had a dry goods establishment, and William Duesman was in the undertaking and furniture business. In the spring of 1881 the town had a grocery in full blast, and one dwelling. In 1885 Clark & Tate opened a new store, stocked with groceries. There was also a shoe store opened that year and Doctor Gear put up a building on Main Street, half of which was for his own use and half for the collecting firm of Cook- ingham & Bender. Henry Lemmer that year was in the stock busi- ness and William Eimers opened a photographic establishment. Newell South put up a store building, Louis Schroeder doing the carpenter work. G. D. Murphy finished an office building and William Eimers, M. C. Bloedorn, Philip Bender, Louis Schroeder, Henry Eimers, Ira Briggle, J. I. Robison and others built residences.
That part of Humphrey and Granville townships in and sur- rounding the Town of Humphrey was settled about 1870, few being here prior to that time. Columbus was the marketing and trading place. In 1879 the Union Pacific constructed the railroad running north and south from Columbus to Norfolk, making an outlet for the rich country lying between the two towns.
T. D. Robison was one of the original owners of part of the site on which Humphrey now stands. He came to Platte County in 1876 from New York, and homesteaded the north side of the town, where he built a little frame shanty. Mr. Robison became prominently con- nected with local public affairs and served the county as probate judge.
The depot was built in 1879 and the first business buildings were a warehouse and a store-frame structures erected by William Eimers in 1880. He was the first merchant in the town. About this time a
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saloon building was put up by V. Eisebacher, and a drug store by Doctor Norwood.
The Commercial Hotel, still in operation and well conducted, was built by W. H. Tieskoetter, a saloon building and residence by Jacob Ripp, and Sherwood's livery barn; all built in 1880.
Thomas Ottis put up the second store building in the town in 1881 and later established a lumber yard and elevator. About the same time Newell South started a hardware store. From this time on the town grew rapidly, and in 1884 a newspaper, the Independent, later merged in the Humphrey Democrat, was established by James Robison.
In 1886 the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley, now a part of the Northwestern Railroad system, was built through the town, running east and west.
Soon after the town was laid out, a schoolhouse-a frame build- ing-was erected and fulfilled its purposes until 1889, when it was cast aside and a two-story pressed brick and stone structure was erected at a cost of $8,000. This is one of the best educational insti- tutions in Platte County and one of its well conducted graded schools. There are now over five hundred children of school age in the district.
M. C. Bloedorn was the first blacksmith and wagon maker. He located in Humphrey in 1880, coming from Platte Center that year. Mr. Bloedorn served the county as sheriff from 1880 until 1890.
E. H. Leach was one of the pioneers of this section of Platte County, coming when a boy in 1872. He was the pioneer stock dealer of Humphrey.
William Duesman was the pioneer furniture dealer and under- taker of Humphrey, establishing that line of business in 1882.
F. M. Cookingham was the pioneer lawyer of Humphrey, coming from New York and locating here in 1882.
R. P. Drake came here from Iowa in 1888 and opened a law office. Since then he has maintained a good practice and is one of the influential men of the community.
Dr. W. M. Condon opened a dental office here in 1885.
P. H. Bender engaged in a general merchandise and creamery business in 1886.
Robert Lewis was the first barber. He opened a shop in 1886.
A creamery was built in the town by the Harding Creamery Com- pany of Norfolk in 1894.
The Humphrey Rolling Mill was erected in 1899, by G. W. Con-
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND GROUNDS, HUMPHREY
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL, HUMPHREY
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
rad. It has all the latest improved machinery and maintains a capac- ity of from seventy-five to one hundred barrels per day.
Humphrey Cemetery was laid out February 5, 1898, for G. W. Clark and R. P. Drake, president and secretary, respectively, of Humphrey Cemetery Association.
On the 14th day of August, 1883, a petition of William Eimers and other taxable inhabitants of Humphrey was presented to the Board of County Commissioners of Platte County, praying that said town be incorporated as the Village of Humphrey. The board being fully satisfied that the territory embraced in said petition contained a population of 200 inhabitants, and that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of said village signed said petition, the board declared the Town of Humphrey incorporated and comprising the following territory, to wit: The southeast quarter of the northeast quarter. and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter, and a strip of land twenty rods wide on the north side of the southeast quarter, of the southeast quarter, containing ten acres of land, in section 24, town- ship 20, range 1 west; and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 19, township 20, range 1 west.
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