USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 34
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D. P. Mahoney came to the township with his father, Edward Mahoney, in 1876. He lived on section 12, 11% miles north- west of town. When Platte Center was new, D. P. Mahoney clerked in the general store of Carrig & Lynch.
R. L. Rossiter, for many years county surveyor, lived in Platte Center and bought grain here. He died at Columbus.
Among the first residences erected was that of William Bloedorn.
Albert Fields had the first hotel. The building stands on Main Street and is still open for business. There was another hotel con- ducted by John Duggan, which stood near the present Clother House. Mahlon Clother was its first landlord and then Duggan took it. Clother returned from Columbus and again took charge of the house, and was the landlord ten years. The building now belongs to a son of Mahlon Clother and is under the management of Ed Lousinski.
Charles F. Herrguth came to Platte Center from Hillsboro, Ill., in 1886, and engaged in wagon making, which occupied his time until recently.
HIGH SCHOOL, PLATTE CENTER
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PLATTE CENTER
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Among the first carpenters in Platte Center were William Rogers, Paul Nelson, Levi Harman, Thomas Pinson, Michael Doody, and George Harman. Levi Harman, William Rogers and Paul Nelson also were among the first to put up dwellings.
Joe Tasker was early in the lumber business in Platte Center; also Henry Seidel.
In 1884 George N. Hopkins came here and opened a harness busi- ness. James Maher, who was raised three-fourths of a mile south of Platte Center, has been in the harness business here a number of years.
Others among the business men in the early days were Isaac Neimoeller, general merchant; Matthews & Norton, harness; Dorr Brothers and Lynch & Carrig, banking business. John Rush had the first meat market and he sold to H. N. Zingg, who is now retired in the town.
George Scheidle, Jr., and Charles Bloedorn were the first children born in Platte Center and made their appearance close together.
POSTOFFICE
Shortly after the railroad was built through here, or on December 8, 1879, the Platte Center postoffice was established. Thomas A. Crugh was the first postmaster. His successors were as follows: F. G. Leisenring, March 30, 1880; T. C. Ryan, September 1, 1881; I. L. Shaffer, January 31, 1882; L. J. Neimoeller, October 19, 1883; R. L. Rossiter, August 11, 1885; John Moffett, April 24, 1889; Robert Pinson, February 13, 1890; M. E. Clother, February 2, 1894; Robert Pinson, January 11, 1898; Anton J. Glodowski, December 3, 1914.
WATERWORKS
The Platte Center waterworks system was established in 1901. It has been enlarged and extended on two occasions. Two years ago about four thousand dollars were spent in placing a new well and pump, also an air pressure tank. The city voted $2,100 in bonds for the construction of the works and in all about eight thousand dollars has been expended in bringing the improvement up to its present high standard. The water is supplied by a well 100 feet in depth, which is one-half mile from the tank, in a frame building, and is vertical in design. The water is pumped into this reservoir by the electric light company, which has a contract with the municipal corporation for that purpose. Emergency pressure is secured by compressed air.
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ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Platte Center has a good lighting system, built and owned by Siems Brothers, who secured a franchise in 1913. The plant is in- stalled with its machinery in a small cement building, and about four thousand dollars is invested in the enterprise. The owners give to the town and private consumers an all-night service, which up to this time has proven quite satisfactory.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
A volunteer fire company was organized in 1908, by C. G. San- berg, F. G. Riley, P. J. Riley, T. J. Cronin, Robert Wilson, John Siems, Lou Hoare, P. F. Luchsinger, Ed Carrig, John C. Burns. George Scheidle, James Sullivan, Pat Cronin, John Kipp, Robert Nay, Ed Lousinski, W. T. Ripp, A. M. Duester, William Bacon. The first chief was Robert Wilson, who served seven years. His successor, lately installed, is T. J. Cronin. The paraphernalia con- sists of a cart with 600 feet of hose, and a hook and ladder wagon. The headquarters is at the city hall, where the air pressure vertical tank, 8x36 feet in dimensions, is built in the twelve-foot-high brick basement.
BANKS
The Platte County Bank was organized in 1899, with a capital of $10,000. The first officials were: R. S. Dickinson, president; David Thomas, vice president; C. M. Gruenther, cashier.
In January, 1910, the capital stock was increased to $25,000, and H. A. Clarke succeeded Dickinson as president. Those who have occupied the position of cashier are B. H. Schroeder, P. F. Luchsinger and E. T. Hughes. W. P. Schelp is the incumbent at this time. The deposits of this bank, as shown by the last statement, were $159,300; surplus, $3,800.
The building in which this bank does business was erected in 1901, at a cost of $3,500; with the fixtures and furniture the investment amounts in all to $6,000. The first home of the bank was a frame building which stood on the site of the new one.
The Platte County Bank was the victim of a bold daylight rob- bery, or attempted robbery, which took place on November 22, 1904. A bandit entered the bank during business hours on the day men- tioned, and passing around the counter ordered Schroeder to throw
LINK
FARMERS STATE BANK, PLATTE CENTER
STREET SCENE IN PLATTE CENTER
Showing Kehoe Elevator and Implement House, the former now owned by the T. B. Hoard Grain Co., and the latter by A. L. Daniels
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up his hands. The cashier failed to comply and was shot. He was sent to the hospital and it took three weeks for his wound to heal. The robber was caught at Oconee, was tried by a jury and sentenced to the penitentiary.
The Farmers State Bank was organized in July, 1910, with a cap- ital of $20,000. The names of the incorporators follow: John Mof- fett, T. F. Lynch, J. A. Hauser, D. W. Killeen, John Mark, D. D. Roberts, E. W. Hoare, O. D. Oltmans, T. P. Chaplin, Rev. Otto Klatt, Bernard Kuhlen, Hans Robinson, F. G. Reiley, John Erick- son, Matt Schumacher, William Loseke, Gerhard Gronenthal, George J. Busch. The first president was John Moffett.
In the same year the bank was organized it commenced business in a new brick structure, which with the fixtures cost $6,700.
The present officials are G. W. Killeen, president; John Mark, vice president; J. A. Hauser, cashier.
SCHOOLS
The schools of Platte Center are graded and under good manage- ment. The building, a two-story brick, with high basement, is modern in style and arrangement. It was built about ten years ago and took the place of one that had been destroyed by fire.
CHURCHES
St. Joseph's Catholic Church is a partial outgrowth of the church established in Shell Creek in the early days. The first Catholic fami- lies in that neighborhood were those of Patrick Gleason, Michael Kelley, Thomas Lynch and John Dineen, who came in March, 1857. They were joined the next year by Michael Dineen and James Conway. In 1859 came Edward Hays, Henry Carrig, David Carrig, James Carrig, Michael Doody and Pat Murray. These families organized St. Patrick's Church in Shell Creek and the first priest to minister to them was Father Fourmont, in 1863. His suc- cessors were Father Smith and Father T. Kelley, who came in 1864. Then Father Ryan, from Sioux City, and Fathers Erlach and Uhlig, from West Point, who built a church in 1871. The first resident priest was Father John Bernard. This church was built on ground donated by Mrs. Cleary and Pat Gleason, located 41% miles south- east of Platte Center, and was called St. Patrick's. The next priest was Father J. Smith, who came in October, 1877. Father
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Flood was in charge from 1880 to 1884. In the latter year the Fran- ciscan Fathers began their ministrations.
In January, 1885, the church was built in town, Father Depman Boniface having organized the congregation, February 3, 1884. On May 4th following, $1,500 was subscribed for a church building. Pat Murphy donated two acres of land and Edmond Roberts two acres, for the site. First mass was said at Platte Center, in St. Joseph's Church, on Christmas Day following, and services were held in the building until it was discarded. It stood just north of the present building. The first floor was used for school purposes and upper part for religious services.
The first building having become inadequate, the present building was erected in 1899, the cornerstone having been laid on August 17th of that year. The structure is of frame, 64x36 feet. In the rear is the rectory, 32x16 feet, making the total length of the building ninety feet. The church was dedicated October 12, 1899, by Father Mar- celinus Kollmeyer, of Columbus. The priests following Father Boni- face were as follows: Rudolph Horstmann, July, 1886; Ignatius Reinkemeyer, 1887; Gottfried Hoelters, 1888; Titus Hugger, 1891; Salvator Lehmann, 1893; Jerome Hellhake, 1897; Salvator Leh- mann, a second time, for a short while in 1901; he was followed by Hyacinth Schroeder the same year; Liborius Breitenstein, 1906; An- gelus Bill, 1909; Cyriac Stempel, 1911; Marcelinus Kollmeyer, 1912; Liborius Breitenstein, 1914.
This church has a parochial school building, of brick construction, with two stories and a basement, erected in 1912. It stands on the lot just south of the church. South of the school is a good frame hall, belonging to the society, where entertainments are given and which is sometimes rented for the same purposes. The attendance at the school is about 110. There are ten grades and many of the pupils complete their high school course here. The children are members of the 100 families connected with the church. To the rear of the school building is the sisters' house.
The German Baptist Society of Platte Center was organized March 24, 1890. Rev. A. Heinrich was elected moderator; Mrs. M. Bloedorn, clerk; William Bloedorn, Ferdinand Seefeld and Henry Loswer, trustees. Soon after the organization the society bought the church building formerly used by the Methodists. This is a neat frame structure, which has served the Baptist people to the present time. The first pastor of the church was Rev. A. Heinrich, who ยท was followed by Reverend Armbruster, who remained one year.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, PLATTE CENTER
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ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL, PLATTE CENTER
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The next to take charge was Rev. E. Heide. Rev. Henry Hilsinger has had charge of the congregation for the past 91/2 years, but in the spring of 1915 severed his connection with the charge and moved to Colorado. As yet the society has not called a pastor, as the society is weak in active members, although there are sixty names on the church rolls. The Sunday school has an enroll- ment of fifty. The society owns its parsonage and also a burial ground. The value of the church property is estimated at $2,000, and the parsonage at $1,600.
The Catholic Foresters have been organized about five years and have a membership of twenty-five.
The Modern Woodmen also have an organization in Platte Cen- ter but seldom hold meetings, although there is a fair membership.
Vol. 1-23
CHAPTER XXVIII
CRESTON TOWNSHIP
Some time prior to the year 1873, Pleasant Valley Precinct was created, from which other townships were carved and the original Pleasant Valley Township lost its identity. One of the precincts created was Arlington, on September 7, 1875, but the organization was not to take effect until January 1, 1876, when an election was to be held at the house of William Longwith. Later the name was changed to Creston. It is comprised of town 20, range 1 east, and is the northwest corner township of the county. On the north is Stanton County, on the east Colfax County, on the south Sherman Township, and west, Humphrey Township. Branches of Elk Creek water the southern half of the land, and tributaries of Tracy Creek and other streams are in the northern half. The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad crosses the township from east to west. On section 8 is the Town of Creston, a station on the railroad, and a short distance to the east in Colfax County is the Town of Leigh, another railroad point. Here is to be found fine, level upland, with a rich black loam, upon which are numerous rural homes of a modern character, with good buildings and fences. The people are frugal, industrious and prosperous and enjoy the advantages of well-ordered schools and churches. Two good trading points, with railroad facili- ties, afford a convenient outlet for the abundant products of the soil garnered here yearly.
Among the earliest settlers in this township were John Drake, Arthur Miles, W. B. Williams, N. McCandlish, R. C. Moran, Nils Olson, John Carstensen, Soren Anderson, Anders C. Anderson, An- drew Iverson, O. E. Engler, P. E. McKillip, H. P. and C. F. Buh- mann, Gerhard Husman, Wilhelm Brunken, Herman Schulte.
Nils Olson and his brother-in-law, Andrew Iverson, were the first white men to come to this township, and gain a permanent residence here. Olson attained prominence in the township and county and for
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many years was a faithful and valuable member of the board of supervisors.
The First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Creston was organ- ized at the schoolhouse in District No. 43, April 10, 1899. Nils Olson was chairman of the meeting and John Carstensen, clerk. Nils Olson, Andrew Iverson and Soren Anderson were elected first trus- tees; Anders C. Anderson, clerk.
TOWN OF CRESTON
The Town of Creston was laid out by the Western Town Lot Company, August 23, 1886, on section 18, and is an important station on the line of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad.
A petition was presented to the board of supervisors, March 20, 1890, praying for the incorporation of the Village of Creston, the land to be embraced within the following metes and bounds: Begin- ning at the southeast corner of section 17, town 20 north, range 1 east, running thence north two and a half miles to the northeast cor- ner of the southeast quarter of section 5, township 20, range 1 east, thence west on the half section line two miles to the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 6, town 20, range 1 east, thence south on the meridian line to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 7, town 20, range I east, thence west twenty chains, thence south twenty chains, thence east twenty chains, thence south on the meridian line to the southwest cor- ner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 18, thence west twenty chains, thence south forty chains, thence east twenty chains, thence north of the meridian line twenty chains to the southwest corner of section 18, town 20, range 1 east; thence east two miles to the place of beginning, embracing sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, and the south half of sections 5 and 6, township 20 north, range 1 east, and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 12, the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 13, and the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 24, in township 20 north, range 1 west.
The petition was signed by the following named persons: Eph- raim Pilling, F. Steiner, J. L. Brown, J. T. Morris, Job Hook, S. T. Fleming, Theodore Wolf, G. F. Early, Olin Trine, John R. Galey, D. I. Clark, C. H. McNeal, T. II. Thomsen, John Wagner, W. J. Belknap, C. F. Miller, John Mueller, A. J. Zeller, M. L. Cla- ton, George Hook, Ira Potter, F. I. Ball, H. L. Leach, Joseph Horn,
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Sam Schneider, R. H. Wood, J. P. Kirkland, J. P. McMillen, F. M. Calkin, W. Y. Smith, W. F. Guiseker, Michael Felter, Dennis Rice, Guy D. Clark, J. E. Eggleston, Ross Harbert, Jacob Reiss, E. T. Graham, Franz Rotter, Fritz Koester, Aaron Oyen.
On the 15th day of March, 1890, the board adjudged and declared the Village of Creston to be duly incorporated under and by the name of the Village of Creston, and appointed Samuel T. Fleming, J. L. Brown, J. T. Morris, D. I. Clark and C. H. McNeal as a board of trustees.
S. T. Fleming located here in the fall of 1881. At the time he drove a herd of cattle through from Ringgold County, Iowa-250 miles away-and settled 11/2 miles southeast of Creston, where he stayed the winter of that year with W. J. Belknap. In 1882 Mr. Fleming bought 200 acres of school land on section 16, where he built a house and farmed five years. He was then in an unmarried state. In a very pleasant interview accorded the writer by Mr. Flem- ing, he had the following to say in relation to the time he became a citizen of Platte County, and his observations of later years: "In the neighborhood where I lived were G. W. Kibler, W. C. Jackson, William Barrett and Charles Heitsman. When I came to Creston I went in with Theodore Wolf, in 1887, and organized the Bank of Creston. We had no capital, but borrowed the money, on which the institution was founded, for which we paid 10 per cent in advance every six months. Our business was established in a little frame building, on Main Street, which was destroyed by fire a few years ago. Charles Graham put up the first building in Creston, in which he had a drug store. In a frame building on Main Street Singleton Cain had a general store; also E. T. Graham; the Sterner Brothers- Ignatz and Ferdinand-had a blacksmith shop. Ferdinand now lives on a farm near Creston, and the last heard of Ignatz he was living in South Dakota. These were the business houses when I came to town. Doctor Huffman was the physician, but only stayed a short time. Doctor Barron came ten years later and remained quite a while. The present local physician is Dr. H. S. Morris, a native born product, who has been in practice five years. Job Hook was the first liveryman in town. The first Sunday school was held in a country schoolhouse the year after I came. This building stood just at the edge of town. The year the town was established the United Brethren Church was organized and a house of worship was built soon thereafter. The membership of this society was quite strong in an early day, but the United Brethren have been out of existence
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here as an organization for fifteen years. The Presbyterians and Methodists were next to organize in the township and the Presby- terians moved their building in from the country. I think the Metho- dist Episcopal Church was built about 1892. Reverend Burch was here when the edifice was dedicated and at that time the church was made a separate charge, it having formerly been attended from Leigh. Rev. St. Louis was one of the early pastors. He remained here four years.
"Singleton Cain and Charles Graham lived in the back part of their stores. Ross Harbert, the carpenter, had a residence, and I think his was the only residence in the town. It stood a block south of the business district. Those who built residences during the year I came to Creston were W. J. Belknap, who came in from the farm; one Miller built the first hotel and became its landlord. The building was moved in the country ten years ago. D. R. Clark erected the present frame hotel, which is now presided over by II. O. Studley.
"The north side of Main Street was destroyed by fire about eighteen years ago, and those who lost their property were A. M. Peterson, general merchant; Curt Ely, harness maker; Jacob Reiss, boots and shoes; Mary Jackson, dressmaker; Fred Zeller, restaurant ; S. Ingram, saloon: T. Wolf, drugs. The drug store, harness shop and saloon were all immediately rebuilt, but most of the others left town. The railroad was built through here in 1886. And today Creston is a well put up little town."
POSTOFFICE
The Creston postoffice was established April 12, 1875, and William N. McCandlish was appointed postmaster. His successors were the following named persons: Arthur Miles, March 30, 1876; William N. McCandlish, June 3, 1879; John Drake, February 15, 1882; C. H. Graham, April 27, 1887; John R. Galey, December 8, 1890; C. D. Campbell, April 19, 1893; George L. Wagner, February 13, 1896; E. M. White, March 1, 1898; J. H. Evens, November 28, 1902; J. L. Brown, February 28, 1905; Anna Roberts, December 7, 1914.
SCHOOLS
The first school at Creston, a frame structure, was built in the edge of town on land donated by E. T. Graham. The building was erected about forty years ago and long since was converted into a
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dwelling. The present building, a rather rickety affair, has been standing a number of years. The school has ten grades and gives employment to four teachers. All preliminary arrangements have been perfected for the erection, in the summer of 1915, of a modern brick school building, the estimated cost of which will be $20,000.
CITIZENS STATE BANK
This financial institution was chartered in October, 1898, by H. P. and Fred Buhmann, with a capital of $6,000. Fred Buhmann became president, and H. P. Buhmann, cashier. In July, 1901, the Buhmanns sold out to P. E. MeKillip and O. E. Engler, who oper- ated the concern until July, 1903, when they sold to the present stock- holders. In the meantime, S. T. Fleming had sold his interests in the Bank of Creston, to his partner, Theodore Wolf, who unsuccessfully endeavored to continue the business in rivalry with the new bank, but gave up in despair within three or four years after the Citizens State Bank had commenced operations.
When the present management took over the bank the capital stock was increased to $35,000, and continues at that figure at this time. When the last statement was rendered, the bank had a surplus of $4,000 and deposits amounting to $190,000.
Under the present organization C. M. Williams was first made president and S. T. Fleming cashier. Williams later sold his interest in the bank and E. R. Gurney, of Fremont, was elected president. He was succeeded in June, 1912, by S. T. Fleming, at which time H. W. Luedtke became cashier.
This bank has been installed in a one-story brick building, erected in 1902, at a cost of $4,000. The fixtures and equipment, including a burglar proof vault and safe, are of the best.
TOWN HALL
Creston has not as yet advanced very far in the way of its public buildings. What may be considered the town hall is a little old frame building, where the city fathers meet and where the fire department also gathers. The latter was organized a few years ago, or when the waterworks was established. P. F. Plagemann is the chief. The apparatus consists of 500 feet of hose, two hose carts, ladders and buckets. Practically every able bodied man in town is a member.
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WATERWORKS
Creston has a good and satisfactory system of waterworks, which was built in 1910, after the electorate had voted upon the question of issuing $10,000 in bonds. A good quality of water is secured from a well 80 feet deep, which is pumped to a tank on top of the tower, 100 feet high. The tank is 14 by 20 feet, with a capacity of 40,000 gallons. More than sufficient pressure is afforded for any case of emergency the system may be called upon to meet.
CHURCHES
S. T. Fleming's memory has it that the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized here about thirty-five years ago, and the build- ing was erected about 1892. Prior to that time a little frame Presby- terian Church building had been moved in from the country, in which both societies held services, the Methodists being attended from Leigh, of which charge it was a part. The separation took place when the Creston Church was built, about 1892. The records of the church do not show who the early pastors were. All that can be given in that regard commences with 1906, when C. E. Carroll was here. He remained until 1908, and in October of that year was followed by C. H. Moore. Then came J. H. Smith, in September, 1911. He filled the pulpit until September, 1912. The next was C. E. Powell, who was the pastor from September, 1912, to November, 1913. Fol- lowing the latter date and continuing six months, the church was without a pastor. This inconvenience was relieved when the present pastor, K. Otto Pearson, took up his duties May 24, 1914.
The church building now in use is a frame structure, which cost about $2,000. The society owns a parsonage, which was built for $1,600. The present membership numbers 48: attendance in the Sab- bath school averages about 60. In connection with the church are the auxiliary societies of the Ladies' Aid, Epworth League and Junior League.
PRESBYTERIAN
By appointment of the committee on church organization, of the Omaha Presbytery. Revs. William McCandlish and Joseph M. Wil- son visited Creston February 3, 1878, and proceeded to form a church society known as the Presbyterian Church of Creston. The following named were enrolled as members: John and Rachel Drake, Arthur
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