USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > Progressive men of Nebraska; a book of portraits > Part 3
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ive conduct is unsurpassed. In 1902 in connection with the Elkhorn Valley road a large union depot that will be an ornament and a great convenience to the town, is planned, and every guarantee given that it will be completed at an early date.
THE SIOUX CITY & PACIFIC RAILROAD, of which there are seven miles in Dodge county, and which is operated as a part of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley railroad, all of which is of the superb Chi- cago & Northwestern system, was completed to Fremont in 1869, three years after the Union Pacific reached the town. To secure the building of this road, which was designed as one of the Pacific roads built under charter from the goverment to run from Sioux City to Fremont where it was to connect with the main line of the Union Pacific, Dodge county issued twenty-year bonds in the sum of $50,000. The Sioux City & Pacific was promoted by a number of Dodge and Washington county men, who organized for the building of an "air line railway." To this company fifty sections of land was made over by the state government for the purpose of assisting in the building of the road from the Missouri River to Fremont. After making all arrangements for the construction of the road, the affairs of the company were turned over to John I. Blair, who financiered and completed the line.
THE FREMONT, ELKHORN & MISSOURI VALLEY RAILWAY, which is a section of the Chicago & Northwestern system, has fifty miles of track in Dodge county-and including the Sioux City & Pacific, fifty-seven miles. In 1869-70 there was an united effort made in Fremont toward the building of a new road from Fremont up the valley of the Elkhorn. Robert Kittle and others were the prime movers in the undertaking. Their work resulted in Dodge county voting $120,000 in twenty-year bonds to help along the enterprise, also donating a stipulated lot of land. John I. Blair was again the power to whom the people turned, and the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Company was organized, its papers of incorporation being dated January 20, 1869, and before the first of the year 1870, ten miles of the road were built northwest from Fremont, and within another year the road was built to West Point, in Cuming county. The building onward of the line through to northern
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Nebraska, and into Wyoming and the Black Hills of Dakota was grad- ual. In ISS7 a line was built from Fremont southward to Lincoln and building continued on from the Platte River to Hastings and Superior. This is one of the most important railroads of the state and its service is maintained up to the high standard of the Chicago & Northwestern system.
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GERMAN LUTHERAN ORPHAN'S HOME, FREMONT, NEB.
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FREMONT -- PAST AND PRESENT.
REMONT from the beginning has been the principal town of Dodge county. In 1857, the town consisted of less than a dozen houses, mostly log huts or cabins built on either side of Military avenue, which was the main thoroughfare. At that time there was barely a tree or shrub visible in the embryo town; the prairie stretching away in every direction presented a sight of loneli- ness. The early settlers were from New York state and other parts of the East and to them their new home was a thing unaccustomed to. They were used to shade, and one of the first things to occupy their at- tention was the setting out of trees. The pioneers suffered many priva- tions. Nearly all were in humble circumstances. Their first few years in the new country were beset with hardships.
Mrs. Miry E. Reynolds, writing of those times, describes a little of the mode of living during that period: "Our dwellings were log cabins a story and a half high, the floors of rough cottonwood boards put down just as they came from the mill. They shrank so badly in a few weeks after being laid that the spaces between the boards bade fair to rival the width of the boards themselves. The wind, which blew in- cessantly, came through the cracks in such force that in winter time it was impossible to keep the dwellings warm. Of clothing most of us brought abundant supply from the East, so did not suffer in that re- spect. But the larder; to keep that filled with the most common articles of every day use was beyond the most of us. Omaha was the base of our supplies and it took three days to make the trip-one to go down,
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one to do the trading in, and the third to drive home. So our shopping expeditions were few and far between. As long as a cent remained in the purse the first year, we lived comfortably, but there came a day, alas, when the purse became empty-not only that, but the flour barrel also, and the coffee cannister and the tea cannister, also the sugar bucket. In fact, we had nothing in the house but potatoes and salt. We had a quantity of corn we procured of the Indians, a much softer corn than the dent corn of to-day, and made fine meal. But there was no mill to grind it nearer than Bellevue and we could not wait for a team to make the trip there and back, so an uncle with an inventive turn of mind took a tin pan and with a nail punched the bottom full of holes as close to- gether as they could possibly be put. Turning the pan upside down upon a table the ears were scraped backwards and forwards over the rough surface and the particles thus scraped off formed the meal which made all the bread we had for many days."
This is repeated here to give the reader an idea of the way the pioneers were compelled to live in those days of the tallow dip. Not- withstanding the severities of weather, the hardships incident to the founding of a new town on the western prairie, people were of a hope- ful, jovial class and made the best of their environments. Dances and social gatherings were frequent, and tended to bring closer together the people of the community and lighten the dreariness of pioneer life.
Fremont was never a prosperous town until the building of the Union Pacific railroad to the place in 1866. In the winter of this year the road was completed to the place and marked a new era for it. The few years following were prosperous ones and the town enjoyed greater growth than it did during its prior existence. Since then the town has been gradually increasing in size and importance. In 1869 fresh impetus was given to the place by the building of the Sioux City and Pacific railroad. On May 24th, 1859, Fremont became an incorporated village. The first board of trustees was, Theron Nye, chairman; R. W. Hazen, clerk; E. H. Barnard, treasurer; James G. Smith, E. H. Rogers, and J. F. Reynolds, the other members of the board. In 1871 Fremont be-
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JOB PRINTING OFFICE
FREMONT-MAIN STREET, LOOKING SOUTH.
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came a city of the second class. At that time it had a population of 1,195. The first mayor of the town was Theron Nye.
In 1860 the Western Union Telegraph line was built as far west as Fremont and on to Ft. Kearney. The first telegraph operator in Fre- mont, and one of the first west of the Missouri river, was Sireno B. Colson, who received the first message, sent from Omaha to Fremont.
The first post-office of Fremont was established in 1857, with James G. Smith as postmaster. There was no regular mail route be- tween Omaha and Fremont, and the settlers were volunteer mail carriers between these two points until July, 1859, when the Overland Stage Company commenced carrying mail between Omaha and Ft. Kearney and intermediate points.
The growth of Fremont as a trading center was slow. 'The ear- liest stores were of the character generally found in frontier towns and were conducted on a scale only adequate to supply the demands of con- sumers in Fremont and the territory around it. One of the first enter- prises looking to the opening of trade with outside points was the estab- lishment of the firm of Nye, Colson & Co., consisting of Theron Nye, S. B. Colson and J. G. and J. Towner Smith. This concern commenced the buying and selling of grain, lumber and coal and other commodities, and was the nucleus of the great Nye & Schneider Company, whose headquarters are in Fremont to-day, with branch elevators and lumber yards in nearly a half hundred cities and towns in Nebraska and Iowa.
RELIGIOUS AND DENOMINATIONAL.
The first church of Dodge county was the Congregational church, organized August 2nd, 1857, by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton. The organiza- tion was perfected with a membership of seven, as follows: E. H. Barnard, Nathan Heaton, William R. Davis, Isaac E. Heaton, Mrs. Miranda M. Heaton, Mrs. Alice Marvin and Henry A. Peirce. This congregation gradually increased and its founder lived to see it one of the most prosperous, as well as great in number, of any church in Dodge county. The first few years of its existence services were held in a building at the corner of Eighth and D streets. In 1861 the first church
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edifice in Dodge county was built by this congregation and served as the place of worship until the present church was built in 1885.
In 1865 St. James Protestant Episcopal church was organized at Fremont. The first Episcopal services were held in the city some years prior at the residence of Robert Kittle and the homes of other members, but not until this time was there any church organization. In 1867, the first building of this denomination was erected near the site of the pres- ent one. The present beautiful little chappel was completed May Ist, 1888.
From an early period Roman Catholic services had been held occa- sionally in Fremont, but there was no attempt to erect a church until 1869, when St. Patrick's congregation was organized, and Rev. John Lonergan was assigned to duty in the town. He had built a frame edi- fice near the railroad track. Subsequently this church was removed to the corner of Fourth and C streets, and upon the completion of the present elegant brick church of St. Patrick's congregation, the old building was removed a short distance and converted into a school- house.
In 1873 the Fremont Presbyterian church was organized, and a year later a frame building erected.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Fremont was organized in the winter of 1857, with a membership of about thirty; its first pastor was Rev. J. Spillman. No church was built until 1866, when a small frame building was erected on the corner of Eighth and Broad streets, the site of the present beautiful edifice, the latter being completed in 1886, at a cost of more than $10,000.00. In 1899 this building was entirely remodeled and enlarged at a cost of many thousand dollars, and is one of the finest houses of worship in Fremont.
The first regular Baptist church in Fremont dates its organization from July 15th, 1869. Its first pastor was Rev. George W. Freeman and its membership numbered about twenty. The first services were held in the old court-house and the first baptism was administered February 23rd, 1870. In the fall of 1871 a frame church building thirty by fifty feet was erected at a cost of about $2,000 00. This building
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underwent improvements at various times and in 1901 was razed to make room for the present fine church building.
The Christian church of Fremont was not organized until 1890.
The First Scandinavin Lutheran church was organized in January, ISS5.
In 1879 the Evangelical association which had conducted a mission from 1874 was duly organized under the name of Ebenezer church. The first regular pastor was Rev. Schwerin.
In April, 1877, the church of the Seventh Day Adventists was organ- ized at Fremont and in the spring of 1883 a small frame church was built.
FREMONT.
The beginning of the twentieth century finds Fremont one of the prettiest cities of the state, not excelled by any for beauty, and as a place of elegant and cozy homes. Neither is there a city west of the Missouri river that enjoys greater commercial importance for its popu- lation. It is the residence place of nearly 8,000 prosperous, enterpris- ing, moral and contented people. They are proud of their homes, their schools, their churches, the general good name of the community, and enjoy nearly all the advantages afforded by metropolitan towns. The city has fine public buildings, a splendid water-works system, gas and electric lights, a sewer system of some thirty miles of mains and laterals, and in all is fully abreast with twentieth century progress. Many of the principal streets are paved, and as heretofore mentioned, all are ornamented with rows of fine trees on either side, making the city one of the most attractive and pleasant resident places of the west.
In commercial and financial importance Fremont stands high. It is an important cattle and grain shipping point, and in manufacturing and in general lines of trade, both wholesale and retail, enjoys distinc- tion. In all the city is a progressive one, a moral one, and while its growth has not been rapid, is steadily advancing, and the future is replete with the highest promise.
The first bridge over the Platte river at Fremont was constructed
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in 1871 and 1872. Prior to that time ferries were used in conveying passengers and goods across the river from Fremont to Saunders county. In 1870 a movement was inaugurated toward the building of a bridge, and the proposition of voting $50,000.00 in bonds for the building of the same was laid before the people. It was proposed to make this a toll bridge until such a time as Saunders county should pay one-half the expense of its building. In 1872 a highway was laid out over this bridge. After its completion the bridge was made a toll bridge. In
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1872 it was washed away. The present bridge was built by the county.
The first school of Fremont was a private one, commenced in the summer of 1858, with Miss Charity Colson as teacher. This school was taught in a small frame house that stood a short distance east of the present high school site. A few years later the first public school building of Fremont was erected on Fifth street near the corner of C. The first public school teacher was Miss Helen McNeal, who com-
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menced teaching in 1859 This was the only school in the city of Fre- mont until 1870, when a two story brick structure containing six rooms was erected and became known as the "Central school." As the city advanced in importance new schools were built, and to-day Fremont stands foremost among the small cities of the West in educational matters.
The Fremont Normal school was established in 1884 by Professor W. P. Jones, who was its president for about three years. After his death his wife continued the school until 1888, when its management was assumed by Professor William H. Clemmons. Under the control of Mr. Clemmons, this institution rapidly advanced and attained a repu- tation second to none among the similar institutions west of the Missouri River. Additional buildings were erected from time to time until accom- modations are now sufficient for nearly fifteen hundred students. In this school courses of study are preparatory course, teachers course, scientific course, classic course, commercial course, music, typewriting, stenog- raphy and law, each department having the full complement of highly competent instructors.
The first fire that destroyed property of any great value in the city of Fremont occurred August 9th, 1869, entailing a loss amounting to some $12,000.00. The flames commenced in the furniture store of William Alexander & Soas and spread to buildings belonging to William E. Lee, the grocery store of Mr. Monroe, Ray and Flor, and other buildings. At this fire a number of volunteer firemen received slight injuries. The second fire of note was on the night of June 22nd, 1871, when the Fre- mont hotel was destroyed, causing a loss of $26,000.00. About a week later the passenger depot of the Sioux City and Pacific was burned, the fire originating through lightning. One of the most disastrous fires in the history of the city was on March 11th, 1902, when the building and plant of the Tribune was burned, entailing a loss approximating $50,000.00.
One of the notable incidents in history of Fremont was the flood of Mirch, 1881, when the waters of the Platte river, owing to an ice gorge three miles north of Fremont, caused an inundation of the streets of the city, doing considerable damage.
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NORTH BEND.
While as early as 1856 a small settlement was made in the neigh- hood of North Bend, it was not until October 12th, 1867, that any serious effort was made towards building up the place. In April, 1856, before there was a single building erected within twenty miles of where the city of North Bend now stands, a number of enterprising citizens of Omaha formed themselves into a company styled "North Bend Town Company." In 1857 the town was surveyed and laid out by Charles Turner, now a resident of Omaha, who at that time was a deputy United States surveyor. This town, like many others of the time, found an existence only on paper and in the active imagination of its promoters. The present town of North Bend was platted October 12th, 1867, by S. S. Caldwell, Mathew S. Cotterell and the Union Pacific Railroad com- pany. The platting and laying out of this town by Mr. Cotterell and others was made possible by the North Bend Town company having relinquished their right to the site by failing to make improvements and otherwise not complying with the law. This neglect gave Mr. Cotterell and Mr. J. Mason Smith a chance to jump the town site, and there was very little opposition to their claim. Many who had purchased lots in the old town, paying from $50.00 to $100.00 each for the same were given titles to their homes, but many more never claimed their lots.
In 1858 a post-office had been started at North Bend with George J. Turton as postmaster. The first school was established there in 1860, a public school-with Miss Mary Heaton, daughter of Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, as teacher. This lady has long been known as Mrs. J. J. Hawthorne, of Fremont. The compensation of school teachers in the pioneer schools of Dodge county can be judged from the fact that Miss Heaton received a salary of $1.25 per week and board. This school was taught in a small frame building, which was located near the west line of the town of North Bend.
The first church at North Bend was the Methodist Episcopal, formed in 1859 by Rev. Jacob Adriance, the pioneer Methodist minister of Dodge county. The second pastor of the church was Rev. Joel A. Van Anda, who formed the first Sunday school at North Bend.
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In 1860 the United Presbyterian church was organized. For nearly ten years services were held by this denomination in the school- house about a mile west of town, and in 1869 a church building was erected. This was replaced in 1887 by a finer structure, which was finished at a cost of about $3,000.00.
While the Rev. Isaac E. Heaton was the first minister of any denomination to hold services at the Bend, there was no Congregational church organized until along in the early So's, but this effort was short lived, and though a church edifice was built, a lack of support caused a suspension of regular services, and finally abandonment of the building. In 1877, the Christian church organized at North Bend, and in 1884, a building was erected at a cost of more than $3,000.
The bridge across the Platte river at North Bend was built in 1880 and 1881, at a cost of $15,000 00. Prior to the building of this bridge a ferry was maintained, and later a pontoon bridge served as a mode of transportation across the Platte to and from Saunders county.
North Bend has sustained two serious fires. The first in August, 1885, and again in September, 1892. The town rapidly recovered from the effect of these two conflagrations, and to-day is one of the solid towns of the county, with a population of more than 1,000; a large flouring mill, two grain elevators, two banks, a newspaper, a number of churches, good schools, hotels, several general stores, and is one of the prettiest towns of Nebraska.
HOOPER.
The town of Hooper was platted by John I. Blair, February 15, 1871, on sections 17 and 20 of township 19, range 8, and was named for one of the railway officials of the Chicago & Northwestern system. For the first few years the growth of the town was slow. The builder of the first house in Hooper was Orlando A. Himebaugh, who erected a house there in 1870, the year before the laying out of the town. The same year Mr. Himebaugh built the first grain elevator and established the first lumber yard of the town. The railroad was completed to Hooper in the autumn of 1870 and the first station agent was Asa
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Briggs. The first hotel in Ilooper was built opposite the depot in 1870 and for some years has been known as the Tillman house. In 1870 a post-office was established and Mr. Asa Briggs was appointed post- master, filling both positions, postmaster and station agent. In 1900 the population of the town was 840. It has a number of general merchan- dise stores representing various lines of trade; two large brick yards and tile works; two good hotels; a newspaper, The Sentinel; four churches, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, German Lutheran, and Catholic. The town has two banks, and an opera house with a seating capacity of 300.
SCRIBNER.
The plat of the city of Scribner was filed December 6, 1870, by John I. Blair for the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad in Nebraska. That year the road was completed to Scribner and beyond. About 1860 James B. Robinson built a grist mill on Pebble creek about one and a half miles west of the town site of Scribner. In September, 1870, with others, he platted the town of Pebble in hopes that the rail- road would build a station there, but instead, the station was located at Scribner, and Pebble remained a town on paper only. The first build- ing erected in the town of Scribner was built by John Rochford, who used it as a store room and later converted it into a residence. The town of. Scribner boasted of but few residences until it had been in existence some half dozen years. In 1900 the town had a population of 827, according to the United States census. There are numerous well stocked stores, and a large trade is had in the rich country surrounding. A large elevator is located at this point, and a large flouring mill in the town and another at the old town of Pebble, one and a half miles west. A large brick yard is located near the town. Two newspapers are maintained, The News and The Rustler. There is a hall and opera house, the former having a seating capacity of 500, and the latter 300. Six teachers are employed in the schools of the city. The German Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, and Congregational denominations have churches in the town.
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DODGE.
The village of Dodge was platted August 10, 1886, upon the com- pletion of the Albion division of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Val- ley Railroad and was named after a post-office which had been estab- lished in 1872 about a mile east of the site of the present village. This town from its organization has been one of the thriving communities of Dodge county, and has a population consisting largely of thrifty Ger- mans and Bohemians. The town was incorporated as a village April 19, 1887. It has a population of 554. There are numerous stores and shops which enjoy a prosperous trade. Catholic, German Lutheran and Congregational denominations have churches in the village. One newspaper, The Criterion, is published there. Six teachers are em- ployed in the public school. There is one hall in the town with a seat- ing capacity of 300.
SNYDER.
The village of Snyder was platted August 5, 1886, upon the com- pletion of the Albion branch of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Val- ley Railroad, and was named for Conrad Schneider, the name being given the anglicized spelling for sake of brevity. In ISSo, Mr. Schneider had built a grist mill near this point, which was the first building erected on the site of the town. Prior to the completion of the railroad to the place, a small settlement had been formed about this mill. The present population of the village is about 250. There are three churches, Citholic, German Lutheran and Methodist. There are two opera houses, one with a seating capacity of 400 and the other of 300. There are a number of stores, a flouring mill, brick yard and planing mill in the town. Three teachers are employed in the public school.
NICKERSON.
The town of Nickerson was platted January 13, 1871, by John I. Blair, for the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railway Company. The land upon which the town is located was first secured from the gov- ernment by Henry Depew, one of the earliest attorneys in Nebraska,
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