USA > Nebraska > Sherman County > Loup City > The trail of the Loup; being a history of the Loup River region > Part 13
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Townsite of Calamus.
As we have seen above, what was Calamus's loss became Ord's gain. For from Calamus came newspaper men, lawyers, physicians and business men. In many instances these not alone moved their business to Ord. but the very houses thither. Thus died ambitious Calamus.
The following record and affidavit is taken from the Valley County Miscellaneous Record, No. 1, and is reproduced, spelling and all, just as it appears there :
State of Nebr ..
Valley County
To the Co. Clerk of said County:
The Undersigned Surveyor being employed by Lieut. Thos. Capron, to Survey Mark and Plat the Town Site of the Town of Calamus in said Valley County according to law and for that purpose he did Employ George Ferguson and C. R. Hutchins, Sworn chanemen on Such survey and did on the 16th 17th Days of Sept proceed to Make such Survey of which the foregoing is a correct and True Plat of the same being made on the North West 14 of the S. W. 14 of Sec. (11) Eleven in Township (20), R. (15) W and extending South 36 ft. on the S. W. 14 of the S. W. 14 of said section (11) Tp 20 N. of Range (15)
Dated and signed this Sep 24th, 1874. LEVI G. PERCE, Surveyor. Affidavit (to above)
I G. Ferguson and C. R Hutchins do solemly aware that we will support the constitu- tion of the United States and the constitution of the State of Nebraska and faithfully and im- partialy discharge the duties of Chainmen according to law and the best of our ability.
G. FERGUSON CHIAS. R. HUTCHINS. W. D. LONG, Co. Clerk.
Filed Oct. 5th, 1874.
In those early days towns were projected rather promiscuously on the virgin prairie by ambitious organizers. Natural demuand had little to do with such enterprises; the idea was to make a demand. Thus the town of Vinton came into existence. In 1876 the town was planned but very little was accomplished for a couple of years. Early in 1878, Henry W. Nelson
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VILLAGE ORGANIZATION
established a newspaper there, which he called the Valley County Courier. For some months this courageous boomer did all in his power to attract settlers and investors to the new town, but so seemingly hopeless was the outlook that, despairing of success, Mr. Nelson moved with his paper to Ord. On Nov. 18. 1878, the Burlington and Missouri River Railway Company made an out and-out donation of the townsite, but even now no marked progress was made.
The Vinton Townsite Association was incorporated May 11, 1882, and the following well known men were elected directors: H. C. Perry, Thomas G. Bartlett and A. W. Travis. The plat on file locates the town in the S. W. # of the S. W. # of Sec. 7, in 1 1 Township 18, Range 14 West. Sixteen 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 blocks were platted; of these, block 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4. six was designated as the "Public ST. ST. ST. COOMBS AVE. PUBLIC 2 Square." But the town had no fu- 5 6 2 8 ture: there was no demand for another 1 SQUARE 4 3 3 4 town within seven miles of Ord, and NELSON AVE. Vinton too-died.
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7 2 10 1 3 4 3 4 Of the four towns here mentioned Calamus had a meteoric existence and MIRA AVE. then died; Vinton was still-born and Vinton 2 School 13 Hour 14 3 2 came to nothing; North Loup has be- 1 4 $D.23 4 15 come a prosperous and promising lit- TRAVIS 16 BARTLETT HUNTING PERRY PETE AVE tle city; and Ord has developed - Vinton Townsite. into a strong, progressive business center. It is almost pathetic now in the new Ord of 1905, with her many business houses and fine residences everywhere springing up, to read of the slow progress of those early days. Years of grasshoppers and droughts, of hailstorms and windstorms, all did their share in keeping her in the embryonic state. But when she finally burst into bloom it was done with a substantiality engendered in the years of rest. The above statement should however be qualified somewhat. The first half of the decade 1880-90 was indeed remarkable for steady growth and substantial progress. The general standstill in affairs came later as a result of poor crops and hot, blasting winds which for a time threatened ruin to all the Valley.
The following paragraphs on "Later Improvements" and "Local Mat- ters" in Ord of 1882 are quoted verbatim from Andreas's History of Ne- braska, and should now after almost a quarter century prove interesting reading, and at the same time impress the reader with the many great changes that have come to the County Seat since that time:
"In 1880, the little village began to make rapid progress indeed. So great was the improvement that it is impossible to mention it in detail. About thirty five buildings were put up. Over one-half of these were busi- ness houses. The totil value of buildings erected that year is estimated at $21,225 The population had by the end of the year increased to 250.
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THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
"During the years 1881 and 1882, Ord continued to progress steadily, and its population will number about 500. All branches of business are well represented, and the trade of the town is in a prosperous condition. On November 8, 1881, bonds amounting to $5,000, were voted to the Union Pacific Railroad for the purpose of securing the early building of the rail- road up the North Loup Valley.
"In 1881, the entire town was threatened with destruction by fire. Though the village was saved, the livery stable of H. W. Nelson was burned to the ground.
"In the spring of 1882, a fire broke out on the south side of the public square. It was caused by a defective flue. Before it could be stopped, several buildings, including the office of Judge Herman Westover, were completely destroyed.
"Ord was incorporated as a viliage on June 23, 1881. The following is the first Board of Trustees appointed on the above date by the County Commissioners: H. G. Rodgers, S. S. Haskell, B. C. White, R. F. Milford and H. W. Nelson.
"Manufactures .- The Ord Flouring and Grist Mill was commenced in the year 1880 and completed early in 1881, by R. F. Milford. It was built at a cost of $5,000, and for the quality of flour manufactured, it is second to none in the state.
"In 1880 John Drake & Co., started a brick yard and the first year about 100,000 bricks were manufactured, since which time the yard has been kept up and a very superior quality of brick is made.
"Banks .- The Valley County Bank was established in October, 1880. A general bank and collection business is done. The affairs of the bank are in a prosperous condition. J. D. Bacon is President, and Frederick L. Harris, Cashier.
"The Ord City Bank was established and commenced business on March 15, 1882. A general loan and collection business is done, and the bank starts in with very favorable prospects. H. C. Metcalf is President, and George A Percival, Cashier.
"Hotels-Besides the restaurants and boarding houses the hotels are two in number. The Ord City House is the old hotel built by S. S. Haskell, and is now owned and operated by James Dies, who keeps a good hotel.
"The Satterlee House, E. D. Satterlee, Proprietor, is centrally located, is well kept, and is doing a good business.
"Churches .- The different church societies are represented by the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian and Seventh day Baptist de- nominations. The first two named have capacious and comfortable houses of worship, which were completed in the spring of 1882. All these societies are liberally supported by the moral and intelligent citizens of Ord.
"Schools .- The Ord school is provided with able instructors, and is well sustained by the intelligent and education-loving citizens. One of the first things looked to in the foundation of the town was a good school, and no money or labor has been spared to make it such a one.
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VILLAGE ORGANIZATION
"Societies .- Ord Lodge, No. 90, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has an organization of over fifty members. The society owns a hall and are in a prosperous condition. The order was organized December. 1880, with thirty six members. W. J. Wilson was the first Noble Grand.
"Foote Post, No. 40, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized late in the year 1880, with W. H. Williams Post Commander
"Pilot Lodge, No. 57, Independent Order of Good Templars, was or ganized at a quite early date. They have a large and working member- ship.
"Newspapers .- The Valley County Journal is published here by Capron & Wolf It is a bright and well edited weekly, Republican in politics, and a five-column quarto in size. The Journal was founded in February, 1879, by J. H. Capron, who had purchased the Courier and changed the name, and published it but a few weeks until his office was burned, when the pa- per discontinued for a short time, until a new office could be fitted up. Since that time the Journal has continued to be published. In August, 1881, Charles E. Wolf purchased a half-interest in the paper.
"J. H. Capron came to Nebraska in September. 1874. and located at Fort Hartsuff, where he was Quartermaster's clerk until December, 1875, when he went to Manitowoc, Wis., and took charge of a newspaper pub- lished there until February, 1878, when he again entered Government employ in Wyoming Territory until December, when he located at Ord, and soon afterward started the Journal. He was born in Beloit, Wis., Sep- tember 14, 1856. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Free- port, Ill., Journal, beginning in 1871. and remaining until going to Fort Hartsuff, Neb. He was married February 15, 1882, to Miss Mary F. Ramsey.
"Charles C. Wolf, the junior editor of the Journal, came to Nebraska in June, 1881, and in August he purchased a half interest in the Journal. He was born in Freeport, Ill., March 3, 1855. He learned his trade in the office of the Freeport Journal, beginning in 1872, and working there until he removed to Ord.
"The Ord Weekly Quiz is a bright and sparkling paper, Republican in politics, and was founded on April 6, 1882, by Will Haskell, of Chicago. The paper starts out with good prospects for future success."
The Middle Loup and Arcadia.
CHAPTER XII.
The Creator's richest blessings have been given unto thee, Nebraska, dear Nebraska.
The air with incense laden blows across thy prairies free, Nebraska. dear Nebraska.
Loyal hearts are beating true dear Nebraska. e'er for you; Thy glory ne'er shall dim nor honor fall.
Over valley. hill and plain shout again the glad refrain: Our Nebraska, dear Nebraska. leads them all. Will M. Maupin.
W HILE we have been telling the story of the North Loup, the Middle Loup in Valley county and its history has not for a moment been lost sight of. It was indeed purposely held back for the present chapter in as much as this part of the work really forms its own unit whole.
For the beginnings of the Middle Loup settlement it becomes neces- sary to go back to the spring of 1873, when the pioneers arrived. First came one George Mckellar, together with his father and mother. He settled a claim which later has been known as the John Wall farm, near Arcadia. Mr. Mckellar was a man of irascible temperament. When under the in- fluence of liquor he was positively dangerous. To him belongs the unenvi- able notoriety of having been the first person tried in Valley county on a criminal charge. Porter Brown and family arrived from Louisa county, Iowa, during the early days of April, '73. He had just reached the protect- ing woods on Hawthorne Creek when the terrible storm of April 13 broke. As good fortune would have it shelter was found in a trapper's cabin, which alone saved him and his devoted family from certain death. Porter Brown entered a claim near the present townsite of Arcadia.
During the summer of '73 the "yellows" were more than usually destructive in the fruit sections of Michigan. They came to Berrian county and there ruined the peach-orchards of Mingerson Coombs, who in despair left the Wolverine State to seek his fortune in the West. Thus it came about that "Ming." Coombs arrived on the Middle Loup early in September. He immediately took a homestead and a timberclaim, lying respectively two and three miles from the present-day Arcadia. About this same time a widower by the name of W. H. Fradenburg arrived and took a claim two miles east of Arcadia. Alonzo Fradenburg with family
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THE MIDDLE LOUP AND ARCADIA
was the fifth settler to come into the settlement. Next spring came Samuel A. Hawthorne with family, and settled near the present townsite. It fell to the lot of Boone Hawthorne to settle where Arcadia now stands.
To narrate in full the story of these first comers would in reality be to retell the narrative of the North Loup settlements. There was the building of suitable dwelling-places, and the hauling of red cedar logs to older settlements. Corn was planted, and then came the locusts in great swarms, destroying every vestige of planted things. When the Indian scares fell upon the North Loup Valley, the Middle Loup was affected also. A stockade was erected on W. H. Fradenburg's farm, whither the settlers might congregate at the first intimation of danger. Fortunately, however, the settlers were not troubled by hostile bands. Several times much excite- ment was caused by the approach of begging Pawnees, who, as some of the settlers will have cause never to forget, were mistaken for the terrible Sioux.
At first the settlement was practically isolated from the outer world. At lenght. in 1874, a post office was opened on Samuel A. Hawthorne's place, and mail was then brought in from Loup City twice a week. When it came to the matter of naming the post office all were united in calling it "Brownville" in honor of Porter Brown, who was considered the real father of the settlement, George Mckellar having been eliminated from consideration through his own misdeeds. It soon appeared, however, that there was already one Brownville in the State; then the present euphoneous name-Arcadia-was adopted.
Arcadia has from the earliest time been noted for her interest in educa- tion. The colonists had no sooner become settled in their new home than they determined to open a school for the education of their children. A teacher was found in the person of Mingerson Coombs, and the sod house of Boone Hawthorne furnished the necessary school-quarters. Here then was the school taught. Seven children, all told, assembled daily from the sod-shanties scattered up and down the valley, and here was laid the foundations to the learning of many men who are making the history of Arcadia today.
But soon there arose a cry for better accommodations for holding school. Why not issue bonds and build a structure worthy of the community? Thus argued one Ingersoll from Lonp City, and he found a willing tool and co- worker in George Mckellar, who together with Samuel Hawthorne com- prised the school-board.
It was proposed to vote bonds in the sum of $4000.00 which Ingersoll was ready to accept in lieu of cash, provided of course that the contract be given him. A hurried election was held and the bonds were declared carried. But the proceedings were suon found illegal. as it was quite apparant that the notice provided for by law had not been given. A second election was ordered, and again, after some "strenuous" work on the part of Mckellar chiefly, the bonds carried by a small majority.
The sum called for was now $3,000.00. Ingersoll got the bonds and
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THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
the contract for the school house. The site chosen was about one mile east of the present town.
Here the work of erection was commenced. The framework was actually raised : but that was as far as the work ever pro- ceeded. Ingersoll left for parts unknown and the new community was left wiser though poorer for their experience
Much bad blood was engendered as a result of this fiasco. Staunch Samuel Hawthorne bad bitterly opposed the bond deal, and as a result had trouble with George Mckellar, who was arrested on a charge of assault and battery. The prisoner was carried overland to Peter Mortensen's dugout, three miles north of Ord, and there for the first time in the history of Valley county was a man tried on a criminal charge. Orson S. Haskell presided as judge Hon. F. M. Fries of Arcadia. and after a careful hearing and much delibera- tion, fined the defendant a good round sum of money, and then let him go with an admonition to keep the peace or worse things would befall.
It may not be altogether out of place here to follow out the checkered career of this George Mckellar, the first settler of the Middle Loup. He, as we have said, was ever quarrelsome, and this was particularly true when he was in his cups. It appears that he had fallen out with a man named Chapman, who lived across the line in Sherman county, about a pig. In February, 1877, the two chanced to meet in Loup City, when Mckellar was
very much under the influence of liquor. Chapman went into a grocery store there to purchase some tea, and as he came out, was shot by MeKel- lar and fatally wounded. A surgeon was called but the victim died within forty-eight hours. Immediately after the murder, Mckellar coolly saddled his horse and rode away, while the men who stood about did not attempt to stop him, as they were waiting for the sheriff to procure a warrant for his arrest. After the escape followed a week of excitement in pursuit of the criminal. A reward of $500.00 was offered for his arrest. After a week, however, he was brought to Loup City, by his own father and given up. Hle was then placed in jail and securely guarded until the time of his trial in April. He was found guilty and sentenced to the State penitentiary for life. Here, we are told, he was shot and killed by a guard some years ago, while attempting to escape. Thns ends the life story of George Mckellar, the first settler on the Middle Loup in Vallev county.
The story of the Middle Loup in Valley county is of late years centered in the rise of Arcadia. The first postoffice it will be remembered was es- tablished on the homestead of Samuel A. Hawthorne, a short distance from the present townsite. For some years no move was made to build a town. The settlers made Loup City and St. Paul their trading points. This seems a long distance for us now to go to dispose of one's butter and eggs and to get groceries in return; but in early days the inconvenience of the thing
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THE MIDDLE LOUP AND ARCADIA
was not taken into consideration, and then, too, all in all considered; time was not so valuable as now.
In 1880 there came up the Middle Loup a man, every inch of him a practical business man-this was John Wall, today known as one of the grittiest and most successful lawyers and business men in his part of the state. It struck him forcibly that the lands adjacent to the river bottom and Hawthorne Creek would make an ideal site for a town. The valley was fast filling up with settlers now and the railroad was bound soon to follow upon their trail. So why not stake out a town and become its founder! The project soon took form and Boone Hawthorne's homestead was chosen for the original townsite. While the beginnings were made in 1882 the town was not properly platted till some three years later. The plat was put on record, Oct. 3. 1885, and shows that Parley Round, Alice Round, John Wall and Isabella Wall were all associated in the new enterprise.
The first store in town was a general merchandise establishment, oper- ated by Ed. Fuller. W. B. Reynolds soon afterwards opened a hardware store. Then came W. S. Owens with a harness shop and George Hastings with another general merchandise store. The Landers Block and the first good hotel were erected and Mrs. Sylvina Gilchrist moved the postoffice to town from her farm one and a half miles out from the new site. These business places were practically all the accessions that the town could boast for several years. But the last half of the decade 1880-'90 saw substantial additions made to Arcadia, both in the business quarter and the residence portion of the town. Then came that season of disasters, 1890-'91.
In the fall of this year the very heart was burned out of the business street. Some eight leading firms were put out of business, several of them never to reopen. To this day the scars of the conflagration can plainly be seen. And now right on the heels of the first calamity came the first dry season and Arcadia naturally enough came to an absolute standstill. From 1891 to 1896 and even later the young town saw some distressing times. Many of the popula- tion became absolutely disheartened and pulled stakes and left the country. A number of houses were actually moved from town and transformed into farm- dwellings. Arcadia was on the retro- grade. But this is only telling over again the story of every other town in the Valley.
By 1900 the rallying point had been Hon. A. E. Bartoo. reached. The population was then 350. In 1902 it reached 374, and in 1905 it has increased to nearly 700. Modern dwelling houses are springing up in every part of town. John Wall has
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THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
lately completed a fine brick business house to take the place of the one de- stroyed by fire some time ago, entailing a net loss of $25,000; an up-to-date Odd Fellows' Hall is under construction and ground has been broken for the new Kinsey bank building. Substantial cement walks are rapidly sup- planting the old wooden . structures; beautiful shade trees and well kept lawns begin to mark a prosperous, growing community.
The Arcadia Champion sets forth the year's growth in the following language:
WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
A summary of the improvements which have been built and are now in building or for which contracts have been let might prove interesting. Here is the list :
Mrs. Salisbury, cottage. $ 800.00
Mrs. Salisbury, residence 1000.00
O. D. Henyon, cottage
750.00
A. Lane, house
500.00
Arthur Lane, house
300.00
H. E. Sawyer, cottage
650.00
E. H. Peck, cottage.
500.00
E. F. Milburn, residence
1250.00
C. Landers, cottage.
800.00
Peter Christian, two houses .. 500.00
F. H. Davis, residence.
1000.00
F. H. Kinsey, residence.
C. O. Blomquist, residence
3000.00
H. O Cooley, residence 1400.00
1150.00
G. H. Kinsey, barn
1500.00
G. H. Kinsey, bank ..
4000.00
Odd Fellows' Hall and Opera House. 6000.00
W. L Phillips, lumber office and sheds .. 1500.00
M. L. Fries, lumber sheds. 700.00
J. P. Leininger Lumber Co., lumber office and sheds 3000.00
This foots $30,300. Comment is unnecessary. Bring on your improve- ments, you towns.
And again a week later:
Besides the sum of nearly $35,000 that is being spent in new buildings in this city this year, the following sums have been expended in building additions to buildings already here :
Peter Christian $1000.00
E A. Donnell
350.00
E. L. Quinton
S. E. Leininger 300.00
100.00
D. O. Hawley 400.00
G. W. Scott. 350.00
J. M. Robinson 350.00
E. G. Robinson 200.00
H. H. Waggoner 300.00 150.00
W. L. Bruner
Besides this there have been cement sidewalks built by Hastings, Raish, Boyce, Cooper Bros. and Landers at a cost of about $40 cach. This adds $4,000 more to the amount spent in improvements this year, which
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THE MIDDLE LOUP AND ARCADIA
added to the $35,900 as shown in the Champion of last week makes a total of over $39,000 spent in improvements in this city this year.
A chronicle of the Middle Loup Valley would not be complete without a passing glance at Lee's Park, lying some five miles southwest from Ar- cadia. The "Park" is a beautiful valley lying on the border line of Valley and Custer counties, right between the Middle Loup river and Clear Creek. It is surrounded with hills and unfolds itself in many gentle undulations. This remarkable valley, containing some 4-5000 acres, is one of the choicest farming and fruit raising regions in the entire state. The soil is a rich, dark loam, capable of withstanding almost any amount of dry weather.
The valley takes its name from the first settler, James Lee, who reached the hills overlooking it in September, 1874. The wild beauty of the scene struck a romantic chord in this pioneer's breast, who immedi- ately selected a choice spot at the center of the valley and squatted there. In '75 he pre-empted one quarter and entered an adjoining quarter as a
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Home of Hon. A. E. Bartoo at Arcadia.
timber claim. Thus settlement was begun.
Mr. J. L. H. Knight, one of the enterprising stock raisers and farmers of Lee's Park, may here be allowed to take up the thread of the story. He says : "Mr. Lee kept bachelor's hall in a sod house, and began to subdue the native soil. He evidently succeeded, as his first wheat crop of one acre testified. He obtained from it forty bushels of wheat, which is supposed to be the largest yield ever raised in the park. The following spring he continued his operations on the farm, and planted some trees on his timber claim, but the grasshoppers again found him, and ate up his corn erop, and also all of his small trees. During these years, as hunters and adventurers passed through, they occasionally stopped at the bachelor's sod mansion, and the fact of his being the only settler, and working with his trees on his
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