USA > Nebraska > Sherman County > Loup City > The trail of the Loup; being a history of the Loup River region > Part 18
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
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so say eyewitnesses, were not tied together to keep them from straying away. The Headlight, quoted above, would even have it appear that Miss Freeman led her whole school by this cord to Mr. Kellison's home-and safety. To Miss Freeman's praise it must be said that she was everywhere present-at the front, at the rear, and on the flanks of her little band. But she was not alone about this. The older boys and girls aided her in every way. Why not give them who so unflinchingly led through the drifts, aiding and encouraging the younger children all they could, and without whose assistance the youngsters could hardly have reached safety, some of the credit? Why not give honor to ALL to whom honor is due?
The latest and in point of destructiveness the most disastrous of all the storms that have visited the Loup Valley is the Burwell Tornado of Sep- tember 15, 1905. This came as suddenly as it came unexpected. Never be- fore in history has a real twister of any great dimensions passed over our region. The so-called "cyclone" which struck Ord in September, 1885, could in no wise be compared to this either in velocity or in thorough- going destructiveness.
The season 1905 was unusually satisfactory to our farmers. An abund- ance of rain interspersed with spells of hot weather resulted in bumper crops in valley and highland. The latter part of the summer only was somewhat unusual in its meteorological manifestations. The latter part of August and the first part of September marked a dry spell which, while it matured the corn rapidly and thus brought it beyond the danger of frost, yet drew the moisture out of the ground at such a rapid rate that fall plow- ing fast became an impossibility. Then the change came. September 2nd saw a great area of low pressure slowly settle over Nebraska and other western states, which marked the beginning of a series of rain and wind- storms seldom equalled in western history. Friday, September 15th, marked the climax of the great atmospheric disturbances. All throughout Nebraska and up and down the Missouri Valley, in Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, the winds blew with varying fury and deluges of rain and hail caused untold damage. That evening Burwell was visited by her de- structive tornado.
The first intimation given the dwellers in the lower valley of any such catastrophe was some more or less incoherent messages by wire; then came the following postal card extra printed immediately after the storm by the Burwell Tribune :
THE TRIBUNE POST CARD EXTRA.
"Burwell, Neb., Friday Evening, 8:30.
A cyclone struck the north part of Burwell at 6 o'clock this evening, demolishing sixteen buildings, Mrs. A. E. Mckinney, wife of E. B. Mc- Kinney, being instantly killed, and Mrs. Geo. Dinnell, Mrs. Leeper, Clifford Dinnell and Frank Hennich being hurt, the latter seriously. M. Saba's general store is a wreck and the dwellings of these entirely demolished : Costello, Hanna, J. Dinnell, Mckinney, Scribner, Leeper, the Star, R. L.
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HARROWING TALES OF A THIRD OF A CENTURY
Miller, Mrs. Dinnell, Mrs. Aikens. Many others more or less damaged. Storm formed in The Forks west of town, was narrow, and extended only a mile and a half southeast of town."
The full extent of the ruin wrought could not be learned till Saturday morning. It then became apparent that good fortune alone had spared the town from a much more disastrous visitation. Had the wind column veered but a few rods to the southward it would have plowed its way through the heart of the hapless town and quite a different tale might now have been told. As it was, it certainly was bad enough, and years must pass before the storm trail can be entirely effaced. The Burwell Tribune in a supple- ment to the issue of Thursday, September 21st, tells the story of the dis- aster in the following language:
"Friday, September 15, 1905, will be remembered for years by the present inhabitants of Burwell as the day of the great tornado.
"Weather conditions that day were very peculiar. The day dawned clear and bright, but within an hour or two a dense fog enveloped the earth. This lifted and the sun shone brightly for a short period of time. Then fog again descended and obscured the landscape. The afternoon was hot and close; clouds black and threatening festooned the horizon to the north.
"About six o'clock the death-dealing funnel-shaped cloud appeared to the northwest of town and in a few moments death and destruction were dealt out.
"But few of the people of the town saw the awful creature of the ele- ments. Those who did took hasty refuge in storm cellars. Others did not know that anything more serious than a rain storm was brewing till the alarm was sounded.
"The tornado seemed to form in The Forks-the confluence of the Cal- amus and the Loup -- just northwest of town a couple of miles. Its first work was on the farm of M. J. Scott, close to where the funnel formed, where several grain stacks were promiscuously scattered over the country. A cornfield near Scott's was demolished. Then the residence of Mr. Cos- tello was razed. The family had gone to the cellar and thus escaped in- jury.
"C. W. Hennich's stable and outbuildings were next destroyed. Frank Hennich was in the stable when the storm struck it and attempted to get into the house when a flying timber struck him down, crushing his ribs and injuring him internally. He grittily crawled to a clump of bushes and waited for the passage of the storm. His mother and sister were frantically trying to get to his aid and were tossed about by the wind but happily es- caped injury.
"The storm passed east from this point, demolishing stables, cribs and outbuildings at Kirby McGrew's, destroying part of the Bartholomew house, occupied by Leslie Baker, then swinging a little south, it overturned John Dinnell's dwelling and razed Mike Saba's store.
"R. W. Hanna's home, north of Saba's store about two blocks, a fine two-story dwelling, was totally destroyed-smashed, I guess would express
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it about as well as any detailed description. Mr. Hanna, his wife, their son, and Mrs. Hanna's mother were in the house at the time and how they escaped unharmed is nothing less than a miracle. The building was picked up bodily, carried a few feet and literally crushed into kindling wood. The four people were right in the midst of the wreckage and yet escaped with- out a scratch.
"The Haas house north of Hanna's, occupied by Ed. McGuire, escaped destruction, but the barn, outbuildings, trees, etc., were swept away. Mar- tin McGuire lost a horse, wagon. harness, etc.
"J. H. Schuyler's fine home, a little south and east of Hanna's, was perforated by flying timbers, racked and wrecked. Clothing which hung in a closet in the house was whisked out of the window and disappeared. The house is almost a total wreck. His stable was entirely blown away.
"Wm. Kester's house, just east of Schuyler's, was partially unroofed. His stables and cribs were carried away. The debris from these buildings was carried eastward.
"The home of E. B. Mckinney, east and a little north of Kester's, was the scene of the greatest calamity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mckinney were in the house when the storm struck it. The house was reduced to kindling wood. Mrs. Mckinney was killed almost instantly. Mr. Mckinney was carried up into the air but escaped with slight injuries.
"Mrs. Geo. Dinnell's home, south of Mckinney's, was swept out of ex- istence. Mrs. Dinnell and son Clifford were carried away and up into the whirling mass of cloud and debris and thrown to the earth close together. Mrs. Dinuell sustained bruises and cuts about the head and body and is hurt internally. Clifford had his arm badly lacerated and broken.
"Geo. Bell's livery barn was unroofed and wagons and buggies were carried away and broken and twisted into all conceivable shapes. One new wagon belonging to Frank Schuyler was found away down the road east, with the wheels gone and the spindles twisted off.
The roof of Bell's residence, just across the street from the barn, had a large chunk taken out of the center, the damage looking as though it had resulted from something having been blown through it.
"Mrs. Gring's residence, just east of Bell's, was badly damaged by wreckage blowing through it.
"McGrew's old store building, occupied by J. H. Schuyler as a pump house, was demolished. The Star store, used in part as a store-house and part as a dwelling-house by Wm. Jeffries, was razed. The family narrowly escaped death.
"North of Mckinney's the wreckage of houses lies westward. Here Mrs. Scribner's home was made into matchwood; the house occupied by Mr. Wheeler and family shared the same fate. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and three children were in the house at the time but escaped without serious injury.
"Fred Woodworth's house (the Hoyt property), a concrete house, was
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HARROWING TALES OF A THIRD OF A CENTURY
unroofed and wrecked, the windmill, outbuildings trees, fences, etc., being entirely destroyed.
"H. C. Woodworth's barn was destroyed and his team taken on an aerial trip. The horses were found near W. L. MeMullen's home, nearly a half mile southeast, unscratched.
"Mrs. Aken's dwelling was blown to smithereens, as was also that of Mrs. Leeper, wherein Mrs. Leeper was badly hurt.
"I. W. McGrew's fine home is almost a wreck although not torn up badly. Timbers were driven through it and it was carried off the founda- tion and generally wrecked. McGrew's barn was totally destroyed, bug- gies, harnesses, outbuildings, etc., went with the general wreck to the southeast.
"D. E. Sawdey's place, next east of McGrew's, was a scene of desola- tion. All his outbuildings, windmill, dray wagon, harnesses, etc., were totally wiped out. His barn was destroyed, the horses blown over the house into the field southward and there escaped unhurt. The dwelling house was picked up, sent a short distance into the air and jammed onto the ground just off the foundation. It is almost a total wreck.
"R. L. Miller, who lives just east of Sawdey's, says the storm passed him on its first trip through, but after cleaning up R. B. Miller's place (the Carson farm adjoining town on the east), it swung back and completely wrecked his home-the two-story part of his dwelling being lifted up and deposited wrong side up in the yard. The family had seen the storm com- ing and had taken refuge in the cave. Every bit of furniture in the house was broken to bits except a large mirror.
"R. B. Miller's place was hard hit and Mrs. Miller and the children had a very narrow escape. Indeed it seems incredible that they could have escaped injury in the mix-up that occurred in the house. Barns, cribs, granaries, fences-everything on the place except the dwelling house itself was entirely swept away-some of the wreckage being carried south, part north. The dwelling was taken up, spun around and jammed into the earth and foundation. Furniture, plaster, debris from the storm, the lady and children, were mixed up indiscriminately but yet the folks escaped unhurt. One horse and several head of hogs were killed on this place. The storm passed southeast, sweeping away grain stacks, wrecking cornfields-in places shucking the corn and digging potatoes, crossing the Loup between H. T. Johns' and Ed Brown's places and entering the hills where it wiped out Wayne Waldron's farm house, barns, etc., and carried off his team. No further trace of the tornado can be found.
"Will Post's new barn in the Harrison addition was snatched out from among the dwellings roundabout and literally carried away. The only other damage done was the upsetting of Mr. Bilderback's house which was under course of construction."
"A relief committee, composed of L. B. Fenner, John Brockus, Guy Laverty, A. Mitchell and Fred J. Grunkemeyer, was appointed by a mass meeting of the citizens of Burwell Saturday afternoon to solicit funds and
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look after the unfortunate victims of the tornado. The meeting was called b& W. C. Johns, chairman of the village board. Contributions are coming in nicely but a great deal more cash can be used and contributions of cloth- ing, etc., would not come amiss.
"The cornice of the Burwell State Bank building was wrecked.
"Windmills, cribs, etc., at Cram's stockyards were demolished.
"The front of Janes & Sons' store was blown in, as was part of the front of Johns & Mitchell's.
"One of the city's windmills went through the window of Baker's bar- ber shop.
"Nearly everybody in town lost a chimney or two.
"The front of Murphy's saloon went out.
"Arlo McGrew hung to a fencepost between the barn and the house until the storm had spent its fury. The ground around him was covered with timbers, but he escaped injury.
"Charley Rupel lost a valuable cow in the mix-up.
"One would bet money to marbles that a rabbit couldn't have escaped from where the Hanna family did without injury.
"Mr. Costello's house was insured for $600.
"The only cyclone insurance carried by any of the losers was $300 by Mrs. Scribner, $1,400 by J. H. Schuyler and $750 by Mr. Carson.
"Mike Saba, John Dinnell and J. H Schuyler, and Rev. E. Maleng, who were in Saba's store when it went up, had miraculous escapes. Mike found himself hung to a telephone pole near the Star store, Jerry flew out and grabbed a pole, John went out and up, landed and was knocked down by timbers several times. The preacher remained in the building until help arrived. All escaped without serious injuries.
"A potted plant stood between Mckinney's house and the gate, a dis. tance of not over five feet from the house. It was uninjured.
"Mrs. Ed McGuire's canary bird was hanging in a cage on the porch and was carried away. The cage was found Saturday about half a mile away but no canary. Sunday morning the canary returned to the house and is now installed in a new cage.
"A part of a wooden hoop from a barrel was driven through a tree in I. W. McGrew's yard.
"Half of M. McGuire's potato patch was dug by the tornado.
"It is a difficult matter to estimate the property loss. Many of the minor losses are not recorded. Following is a partial list. The loss will total more than $50,000:
Costello $1000
Hennich 500
Hanna 3000
Schuyler, J. H. 2500
MeKinney 2000
Saba. 5000
Murphy 100
HARROWING TALES OF A THIRD OF A CENTURY
201
Dinnell, Mrs. Geo. $ 500
Dinnell, John 500
McGrew, I. W 2000
Scribner 600
Leeper
500
Woodworth, Fred
800
Miller, R. L.
2000
Miller, R. B.
500
Sawdey
500
Carson 1000
Schuyler, John
500
Akens
500
Coon
400
Brownell.
150
Bell, G. W.
1000
McGrew, Kirby
250
McGuire, M.
350
Williams, R. T.
125
Star Store
350
Hathaway .
100
Ziegler, Orville
100
Post
250
Cram, W. I.
200
Telephone Co
500
Kester, Win.
200
Woodworth, H. C.
200
Beatrice Creamery Co., notes, cream cans, etc 5000 Garrison, Fred
300
Otte, Will
200
Barr, Jas.
100
Thurman, Tan
100
Miscellaneous
10000
Beauchamp, Ross, corn
200
Changes Down Through the Years.
CHAPTER XVII.
What constitutes a state? Not high raised battlement, or labored mound. Thick wall or moated gate; Not cities fair, with spires and turrets crown'd; No :- Men, high-minded men, With powers as far above dull brutes endued In forest, brake or den,
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude :- Alcaeus, The State.
T HE FIRST regular election held in Valley county after its organiza- tion, took place in October, 1873, and resulted as follows: L. C. Jacobs, John Case and R. W. Bancroft, Commissioners; W. D. Long, Clerk; E. D. McKenney, Treasurer; Oscar Babcock, Judge; H. A. Bab- cock, Sheriff; Thomas McDowell, Surveyor; and Charles Badger, Superin- tendent of Schools. At an election held October 13, 1874, R. W. Bancroft was re-elected Commissioner and Peter Mortensen and Mingerson Coombs were elected respectively Treasurer and Surveyor, to fill out the ticket.
At the regular election held on October 12, 1875, Mingerson Coombs, A. S. Adams and C. H. Woods were elected Commissioners; Thomas Tracy, Judge; M. B. Goodenow, Sheriff: H. A. Babcock, Clerk, Peter Mortensen, Treasurer; Oscar Babcock, Superintendent of Schools; Charles Webster, Surveyor; and Charles Badger, Coroner.
On Nov. 7, 1876, Oscar Babcock was elected County Commissioner. Herman Westover was appointed County Superintendent to fill Mr. Bab- cock's unexpired term.
At the next annual election, held on Nov. 12, 1877, H. A. Babcock was elected Clerk; Byron K. Johnson, Commissioner; Peter Mortensen, Treas- urer; Herman Westover, Judge; H. W. Nelson, Surveyor; M. Coombs, Superintendent of Schools; and E. D. McKenney, Coroner.
The election of November, 1878, resulted in the election of Oscar Bab- cock to the State Legislature from the Forty-fifth Representative District. W. B. Keown and A. V. Bradt were elected Commissioners.
At the general election on November 4, 1879, B. H. Johnson was elect- ed Commissioner; H. A. Babcock, Clerk; Peter Mortensen, Treasurer; Herbert Thurston, Sheriff; S. L. R. Maine, Judge; H. W. Nelson, Survey- or; and M. Coombs, Superintendent.
In November, 1880, H. C. Perry was elected County Commissioner.
The regular election on Nov. 8, 1881, resulted in the election of Arthur C. Lapham, Commissioner; H. A. Babcock, Clerk; Peter Mortensen,
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CHANGES DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS
Treasurer; John Mosher, Judge; Herbert Thurston, Sheriff; John F. Kates, Superintendent; C. J. Nelson, Surveyor; and E. D. McKenney, Coroner. In the November election of 1882, H. A. Chase defeated his opponent for Commissioner by a vote of 422 to 33.
Now, as the county increased more rapidly in population, much of the old, neighborly feeling was beginning to wear away, and party lines to be more closely drawn In the regular election of 1883 a bitter contest ensued between Arthur H. Schaefer, the Republican nominee and Ed. Satterlee, Democrat, for the Clerkship. Mr. Schaefer was elected. A. D. Robinson was chosen to succeed Mr. Mortensen who had refused further re-nomina- tion to the office of Treasurer. All the other officials were re-elected.
The election of Nov. 3, 1885, resulted in a complete Republican victory. J. J. Hamlin was elected Commissioner; A. D Robinson, Treasurer; A. H. Schaefer, Clerk; A. A. Laverty, Judge; W. B. Johnson, Sheriff; John F. Kates, Superintendent; D. C. Way, Surveyor; F. D. Bickford, Coroner.
In November 1886, J. A. Ollis, Jr. was elected County Commissioner, and E. J. Clements, County Attorney.
The election held November 8, 1887, was closely contested as a new element-the Prohibitionist-showed remarkable strength. The Republi- can nominees were, however, elected with the one exception of Superin- tendent. For this place the Democratic candidate, Stephen A. Parks de- feated Mrs. Emma Gillespie by some 50 votes. The other republicau can- didates elected were, Jacob Lemaster, commissioner; Abe Trout, Treas- urer ; Jas. A. Patton, Clerk : A. A. Laverty, Judge; R. C. Nichols, Sheriff ; C. J. Nelson, Surveyor ; and Ed. McKenney, Coroner.
In the election held November 6, 1888, the main issue before the people was the question of township organization versus the Commissioner sys tem. The township supervisor idea seemed to meet with general ap- proval, and carried at the polls by a vote of 826 for to 381 against. At this election B. H. Johnson was chosen Commissioner, the last under the old organization.
A spiritless campaign, characterized by Republican disaffection and general dissatisfaction, marked the fall of 1889. When November 5 came the best the Republicans could do was to elect treasurer, clerk and coroner ; the other offices all went to the Democrats. Those elected were Abe Trout, Treasurer; J. A. Patton, Clerk; J. R. Fairbanks, Judge: W. H. Beagle. Sheriff; S. A. Parks, Superintendent: Bennett Seymour, Surveyor, and F. D. Bickford, Coroner.
By 1890 the Farmers' Alliance was entering politics and the Populist party was in the making. A great shifting in party affiliation was taking place. And this to such an extent that the Republican party was soon to lose control of both county and state. November 4, 1890, saw the election of Charles Munn, a former Republican, to the county attorneyship: this marked the beginning of Valley county's change in political affiliation.
The next year, Nov. 3, 1891, every office with the sole exception of county clerk was won by the "Independent Party." George Hall was the
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THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
only Republican elected, and he went in with the small majority of 59 votes. The Independents elected were: I. S. Fretz, Treasurer; F. C. Cummins, Judge: A. V. Mensing, Sheriff; J. H. Jennings, Superintendent; Wm. Hill, Surveyor; J. M. Klinker, Coroner.
In 1892 and again in 1894 Charles Munn was re-elected county attorney. The election held November 7, 1893, did in nowise change the political com- plexion of the county officials. The only changes were the substitution of Vincent Kokes, Republican, for George Hall, Republican, and Douga! Mc- Call, Independent, for J. H. Jennings, Independent.
The year 1895 was marked by a rather vindictive campaign. The chief fight was on the clerkship, now the Republican citadal. Vincent Kokes and his opponent, Jorgen Miller, were both strong, clean men. The Re- publican forces were, however, marshalled in such a manner that Mr. Kokes retained his office by a large majority. The Republicans now re- gained control of the county board, the vote standing: Republican, 4; In- dependent, 3. The Republicans also regained the offices of sheriff and surveyor. Those elected were: Vincent Kokes, Clerk; H. A. Goodrich, Treasurer; R. L. Staple, Judge; Adam Smith, Sheriff; D. McCall, Super- intendent; C. J. Nelson, Surveyor: E. J. Bond, Coroner.
In 1896, while the nation went for Mckinley, Nebraska and Valley county voted for Bryan. J. H. Cronk, an Independent, was elected to the state legislature and A. Norman, a Democrat, was elected county attorney.
The next year, 1897, was in many respects an off year. The results of the November election were rather mixed. Vincent Kokes was re-elected clerk; W. B: Keown, Republican, defeated H. A. Goodrich, the incumbent, by only two votes; R. L. Staple was re-elected, as was also Adam Smith; Lorenzo Blessing, Republican, defeated D. McCall, likewise S. G. Gardner, Independent, defeated C. J. Nelson. Drs. F. D. Haldeman and E. J. Bond each polled 719 votes for coroner. Dr. Bond later drew the lucky straw and was declared elected. As it was thought that Valley county had now a population which under the law would allow the maintenance of a separate office for Clerk of District Court, candidates were put in the field for this office. Frank Koupal, Independent, was elected.
The election held November 5, 1899, was a victory for the Independent party ; but it was also their last one. W. B. Keown and Lorenzo Blessing were the only Republicans elected. The other officials chosen were: Horace Davis, Clerk of District Court; Frank Koupal, County Clerk; R. L. Staple, Judge; H. D. Heuck, Sheriff; F. J. Ager, Surveyor; and R. A. Billings, Coroner.
In 1900 the Republican party won in nation, state and county. Victor O. Johnson, the popular Independent who had been appointed County Attorney when Charles A. Munn resigned to become District Judge, was elected by a bare 14 votes. Everything was preparing for the Republican victory of 1901.
The census of 1900 showed conclusively that Valley county was not en- titled to the separate office of Clerk of District Court. This was therefore
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CHANGES DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS
ordered discontinued. In the election"held November 5, 1901, only two Independents were elected. These were Judge Staple and Superintendent Ira Manchester. Everything else went Republican. The new set of offi- cials were: Alvin Blessing, Clerk: W. L. McNutt, Treasurer; John Kokes, Sheriff; C. J. Nelson, Surveyor; C. A. Brink, Coroner.
The Largest Ear of Corn ever Grown on the North Loup: Taken at Burwell with Postmaster Beynon as Driver.
PLUG BoxtheA
The year 1902 proved still more conclusively the Republican ascend- ency in local politics. The election held November 4th of that year saw the election of Peter Mortensen, one of the first settlers in our county, to the post of State Treasurer; M. L. Fries of Arcadia was elected to repre- sent the 15th Senatorial District in the state legislature; Dr. A. E. Bartoo,
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THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
also of Arcadia, was elected State Representative; and Arthur Clements of Ord defeated Victor O. Johnson for county attorney by 196 votes. These were all Republicans.
The general election of November 12, 1903, saw the end of Populist regime, so far as administrative offices are concerned. Every Republican of the previous administration was re-elected, and Hjalmar Gudmundsen
Andrew J. Gillespie, Sr., the Centenarian of the Loup, Who Celebrated, His 100th Birthday at Scotia, June 4, 1905. Mr. Gillespie Has 172 Living Descendants --- Nine Children, Seventy-seven Grandchildren, Eighty Great- Grandchildren, and Six Great-Great-Grandchildren.
was chosen to succeed Judge R. L. Staple, and Alta Jones to succeed Mr. Manchester as superintendent.
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