CHAPTER III.

General Improvement - Demands for Another Railroad - Struggle Between Friends of the Union Pacific and the Atchinson & Nebraska - The A. & N.'s Triumph - Jones Carictured - Injunction Against Bonds - Officers Visit Butler County to Sign Bonds - Injunction Made Perpetual - The B. & M. Swallows the A. & N. - Depression and Despondency - Dust Storms - Poor Crops - Seward Sick - The Tragedies of 1880 - Bates Slaughter Pen - The Bowker Murder - Small-Pox Scare - Small-pox in Earnest - "A" Precinct Tragedy - Mrs. Patrick's Murder - Terrible Snow Blockade 0 Revival of Business and Advance in Real Estate - Movement of People to the West, and the Results - Stock Breeding and Feeding - New Industries - Township Organization - F.E. and M.V.R.R. - Jonah Can't Swallow the Whale.

So far as business was concerned everything moved along smoothly during the year 1878, but nothing of special note occurred, yet there was general advancement in the city and county in a quiet way. The Norval block and Goehner block were added to the brick structures, and they made quite an addition to the business houses of the city.

During this year the feeling began to gain ground with the people generally that the county needed another railroad, and negotiations were opened with the Union Pacific managers, and also with the managers of the Atchison and Nebraska company. The projected line of the Union Pacific was to connect Seward and the south-west with the Republican Valley line at Brainard, on very nearly the same line that is now occupied by the Northwestern road. The Atchison and Nebraska running from Lincoln, via Milford, through Seward, David City, and Columbus. Our people were divided in sentiment. In the city each project had warm adherents. Our Milford friends had suddenly been converted, and were no longer opposed to railroad bonds from principle, and like all new converts were very enthusiastic for the A. & N., and they were manfully backed by the dwellers up the Blue Valley. Outside of the city but feeble efforts were made in behalf of the U. P. project.

A great mass meeting was called in the spring of 1879, to determine which of the two schemes the people would most heartily endorse. The public square of Seward was filled with people. Hon. S. B. Galey, of Lincoln, assisted by Judge O. P. Mason, represented the A. & N. road, and Claudius Jones, of Seward, the U. P. Excitement ran high that day, and there were some scenes enacted that were not very creditable to our people.

Unfortunately the person representing the U. P. interests did not enjoy the full confidence of the people, and they looked at the railroad through the man, and unwisely refused to listen to his proposition, but hooted him down and caricatured him most scandalously, even carrying the joke so far as to bring the matter up in the Fourth of July celebration and representing him in a hoodlum procession as a mammoth hog.

The pressure was so very great that commissioners and all were swept along without let or hindrance, and the proposition in favor of the A. & N. Co. was submitted under the corporate name of the Lincoln and Northwestern. The amount of bonds asked for was seventy-five thousand dollars in county and precinct bonds, divided up in a satisfactory manner between the county and C, G, J, 0, and I precincts. The propositions were carried in the county and all the five precincts by good majorities. The railroad was speedily constructed and the cars rolled up the beautiful valley to Seward early in October, when there was general rejoicing all along the line. Milford was now happy, as she was connected with the outside world in general, and with the county seat in particular, by rail. There were enemies of the road steadily and persistently at work, however. We will not attempt to divine their motives. It may have been the dear people that they were interested in, or it may have been spite work. Be that as it was, an injunction suit was commenced against the issuing and delivering the county bonds, and also those of C, G, J, and O precincts, leaving I to look out for itself.

It was the undoubted right of a citizen and tax payer in the county, or any precinct thereof, to commence an injunction suit, and have all matters thoroughly sifted in the courts as to the legality of the proposition, and also the legality of the election and the returns, and it was without question the duty of all officers having the custody of the bonds to obey the order of the courts, and let consequences take care of themselves; but in this case there was some trickery that wilt hardly bear the light of day. It seems that the county clerk, Thomas Graham, was away from home, and the business of the office was left in the hands of his deputy. Perhaps it is not expedient to state all we know, yet it seems clearly proper that these historical sketches should be true, and we can hardly pass over this important matter without relating the whole truth so far as we know it.

It seems that there was an inordinate desire on the part of the deputy clerk (Ed. O’Keefe) and the board of county commissioners to evade the injunction, and in the night-time these persons took the seal of the county, and slipped away to David City in Butler county, and signed and placed the seal of the county upon the bonds there, and then returned to Seward and made their record of their proceedings as if all had been regular. What motives prompted these gentlemen to perform the important duties of their office in Butler county, the reader may judge for himself. It is sufficient to say that they left the way open for censure, and accomplished nothing except a long law8uit, in which the injunction was made perpetual There was talk that bribes had been used with certain parties, and that attempts were made to induce other prominent men to help along this bond scheme by large bribes. In fact, some individuals have told us that they had been approached by offers of large amounts if they would assist in carrying the scheme through to a successful termination.

As time rolled on, it developed that the people had been victimized, and that they had given seventy-five thousand dollars, or at least they had agreed by their votes to give that amount, for another B. & M. H. R. For a few months only did the A. & N. maintain control of the road when it had passed in its checks, and we all awoke to find ourselves sold, and with two B. & M. roads on our hands.

The competition given our people during the fall and winter of 1879—80 was noticeable, and was a great benefit to the farmers. The markets of Seward county that winter were about the best in the state. This had the effect of stimulating the business of the city, and a rapid growth was the immediate result. Scores of new buildings sprang up, and all went merry as a marriage bell in the spring of 1880. But when it became known that the B. & M. had swallowed its competitor, we all heard something drop, and it hurt most fearfully. One noticeable effect was that it reduced suddenly the number of grain dealers from about a full dozen to two, and the competition in the grain trade of Seward became a thing of the past.

Seward became suddenly sick, nigh unto death. This change fell like a dead weight on all interests, and to further aggravate our trouble we had a series of dust storms during the spring. The weather was exceedingly dry, and heavy winds prevailed to such an extent as had never been known before. Great ridges of dust were carried from the fields and piled up along the hedges and fences like huge snowdrifts, some of which remain visible to this day. Crops were not satisfactory that season, and times were hard. Lands became a drug in the market again, and all classes of business languished, and there were more vacant houses in the city than at any time in all her history. Mechanics and laborers were compelled to seek employment elsewhere, and the city was wrapped in a mantle of gloom for a season.

The Windsor house had been commenced before the depression had fully set in, and it was fully completed during the following winter, but remained idle for a full year, as no one could be induced to open it under the circumstances.

The building of this branch of the B. & M. R. R. was of great advantage to some portions of the county. It made but ¹ittle difference to Milford, Pleasant Dale, or the people of the north-western portion of the county whether the road was an Atchison & Nebraska or a B. & M. They wanted a railroad, and now they had it, and they were happy; but it made all the difference in the world to Seward. She had B. & M. roads to her full satisfaction, and she did not need any more in her business. What the city wanted was competition in freight, and this hops being deferred again had the tendency to make the heart sick.

However, this road has proved of great value to the county. It has added directly one hundred and thirty thousand dollars to the taxable property of the county, and has opened up four new stations, brought into life and activity three new towns, infused into Milford new life, and added largely to the value of the lands all along its line, and now is, after years of waiting, of great benefit to the city. Since the completion of the Northwestern, we now have three railroads for all practical purposes, whereas before we only had one, and so, as will appear further on, the building of the Northwestern was equivalent to giving us two new roads for most purposes.

During the financial depression we were doomed to other troubles that are most sickening to relate, but essential facts of history cannot be left untold. The year of 1880 could not pass without its tragedy. In B precinct, in what is known as the Bates school-house, there was a protracted meeting in progress, and there were some young men in the neighborhood who lacked the proper training, or at least had forgotten that the very genius of our government guarantees the privilege of worshiping God as seemeth good to us, and that no man may interfere with these sacred rights. They had on several occasions molested the meetings and were rather incorrigible in their efforts to break up the same, and we are of the opinion that they were not met with a Christian spirit by the church people, as the sequel proves. Perhaps had the admonition of Paul, "Overcome evil with good," been practiced on that dreadful night, it is quite probable that instead of a horrible tragedy there might have been good results.

It seems that the rough fellows who should have stayed away went armed with revolvers, and some of the church people had provided themselves with clubs, and at least one of them (William Bates) carried a revolver.

When people are anxious to get into difficulty they can always find an opportunity. As was expected, the belligerent feelings soon found vent in hot words, which were quickly followed with blows; revolvers were brought into play, and a scene of desperation ensued that was revolting to our civilization, resulting in the killing of William Bates, and so wounding Hilliard Thomas that he died of the wound. James Thomas also received a flesh wound in the hip; Israel Bates also had a flesh wound in the thigh, and Luther Bates received a heavy blow on the head with a shovel or spade. It seems that the Bates family and the Thomas family were not on friendly terms, and who may have been most to blame for their former trouble it is impossible to say, but in this horrible tragedy it is evident that in a degree at least both parties were at fault. The Bates family were of good repute as citizens, and were very zealous church people, but they had the fault of letting rash tempers get the better of them, and were quick to resent an insult or injury—rather too much so for followers of Him who taught us to do good to those who would despitefully use us. They did wrong in carrying clubs and revolvers into a Christian meeting in this land of law and order.

They had no right to do it. It was unchristian and unlawful and entirely unnecessary. If the unruly persons had shown themselves to be so incorrigible that kind words and Christian courtesy could not reach their case, it would have been easy to obtain the assistance of peace officers.

The Thomas family personally we know but little about, but of this we are certain, we have no words of excuse for any party that will go into a religious meeting for the purpose of disturbing it. The personal enmity of certain members of the congregation is no valid excuse for such outlawry, and however much the Bates family erred in their rashness, still it must be the just judgment of an unprejudiced world that the Thomas family and their abettors were the cause of this fearful catastrophe.

Just why this trouble has never become a matter of judicial investigation we are not able to say. It seems very curious to us that such a scene of lawless butchery, with such far-reaching consequences, should not be thoroughly sifted by the courts and the responsibility placed where it properly belongs.

Also in March, 1880, a bloody tragedy occurred at East Milford, which terminated in the murder of Samuel Bowker, by two brothers, Milton and John Granger. This difficulty grew out of a quarrel between the old man Granger and Bowker, in which Bowker knocked Granger down. Somehow Mr. Granger was dissatisfied with the marriage of his daughter, and this is supposed to be the beginning of the trouble. This had occurred some months before. Mr. Bowker was quite a pugilist, and was at all times ready to resent what he considered an insult or an injury, with his fist. He was some days after this fracas passing the store of the young Grangers, and was invited to alight from his wagon, which he promptly did, and pulled off his coat and announced himself ready for the two Grangers.

Some hot words were followed with blows, when Milton drew a revolver and shot twice at Bowker, when his antagonist knocked the revolver from his hands. Then John opened fire and fired five or six shots, two of which took effect, one striking near the shoulder blade and passing down the spine, which caused his death. The Granger brothers were arrested and put upon trial, when they pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and received a sentence of ten years in the state prison.

In the spring of 1880 there was a small-pox scare in Seward that worked great mischief. In the southern part of the city a family were reported to be stricken with the dread malady. Physicians reported, after a thorough examination, that it was a genuine case of small-pox. This resulted in breaking up the school and creating almost a panic, which was a serious injury to all the business interests of the city. We have no right to dispute the judgment of skilled physicians. in such matters, but there were some things connected with this matter that brought their views into discredit, and very many people think to this day that instead of small-pox the victim had the itch, and was rotting with it. It was reported that the patient broke away from the guards and left the town in hot haste.

This panic worked a hardship to the graduating class of that year. A goodly number had just finished their course of study and had fairly earned their degree, and while the examination was in progress the school was broken up and the class were robbed of the honors they had justly earned. In justice to one of the brightest classes that ever earned diplomas in our high school, some plan should have been adopted to provide its members with their diplomas.

In H precinct, in the winter and spring of 1882, small-pox did break out for certain and worked ruin to a large settlement. Many people died and many more were stricken, but by good nursing were saved from death. The county authorities furnished medical and pecuniary assistance, and kept a close surveillance, and it was confined to the one settlement. Drs. Hastings and Monteith were given charge of the patients, with proper police powers. This terrible scourge nearly ruined the settlement for a time. There were reported by Dr. Hastings sixty-two cases and seven deaths in all.

In June, 1882, a peculiar accident occurred near Marysville. A young man by the name of Mentz was plowing corn near the river bank. His team became frightened and by some means dragged the young man into the mill-pond, where man and team were drowned.

Scarcely had the excitement attending the horrible Bates tragedy died away when, in the spring of 1882, the same locality was called to witness another scene of horror and bloodshed. It was a most unfortunate occurrence that one neighborhood should be the scene of two such terrible catastrophes within two short years, but in justice to the people we can truthfully say that the masses of B and A precincts are just as worthy and law-abiding citizens as are to be found anywhere.

This last trouble grew out of a family wrangle, in which the father, mother, and children were at variance. Just who were most to blame for the beginning of the trouble nobody knows. Mr. Patrick and wife and some other members of the family were returning from Seward, and a quarrel arose on the way home, which resulted in the old lady being shot to death. It seems that several members of the family were mixed into the affair. Many shots were fired at the old man by the boys, and he fired several shots, one of which killed his wife and the mother of his children. There being some discrepancy in the evidence in regard to the condition of affairs, and the embroglio that led to the shooting, etc., the old man’s life was spared, and he is now serving a sentence in the state’s prison for life. The murder occurred in the first days of April, 1882.

In the month of February, 1881, this western country experienced a series of terrible storms of drifting snow. The wagon roads were all blocked, and railroad traffic was abandoned. Seward was eight days without mail. The loss of mail was a serious inconvenience, but was nothing compared to the want of fuel. In city and country the people were put to straits for fuel, and had not relief reached us just as it did, very much suffering would have occurred.

The year 1881 was rather dull and monotonous, but fair crops and a gradual advance in price once again revived the drooping spirits of the people, and as 1882 was ushered in there were brighter skies and cheering promises of better days, which put a new phase on all interests.

New people flocked in, property began to change hands freely, and soon prices advanced, slowly at first, but later, as the demand increased, prices ran up in many cases over a hundred per cent. Good crops in 1882 set things fairly booming, which continued to the fall of 1884.

Much valuable improvement was accomplished in both town and country. Prices of property reached the maximum in the winter and spring of 1884. After the presidential election in the fall of 1884, all property matters were at a stand-still. But few immigrants came among us, and great numbers of our people were violently attacked with western fever, and in the spring of 1885 multitudes pushed for the frontier. While this seemed to work to our disadvantage for a time, it will prove a great blessing to us.

It has now demonstrated in a measure the value of western lands for agricultural purposes, and thus practically expunged from the map the last vestige of the great American desert, which was such a bugaboo to us during all our younger years. It has helped to plant farms all the way to the foot of the Rockies, and scores and even hundreds of bright towns and cities to-day dot the great plains, where the most credulous thought a few years ago that white men would never attempt to make homes. This all adds stability and value to this region. Any and every improvement in the West can but add value to our homes and lands.

Since 1880 many individuals have turned their attention to feeding cattle and hogs, also to the production of the tame grasses.

Feeding is carried on quite extensively now, there being many herds fed in various parts of the county, and this industry adds largely to the value of our staple, the corn crop.

Timothy and clover are rapidly taking the place of the wild meadows, and blue grass that of the wild pastures. The soil and climate are especially well adapted to the production of grasses.

Within a few years, also, the honey bee is receiving attention, and honey is produced profitably on many farms, and the industrious little servants find our luxuriant meadows and cornfields just the place for them to thrive.

In the fall election of 1886, by popular vote the people determined to try township organization, and during 1887 we had a board of supervisors, consisting of one member from each of the sixteen towns and two members from the city. It is yet too early to form any just conclusion as to whether it will prove more satisfactory to the people than the commissioner system.

For some years our people had been looking anxiously for an opportunity to secure to the county a competing line of railroad. We had parleyed with the U. P. folks, but could get no definite answer from them, but finally when the Northwestern company were building their Lincoln branch, fortunately, Mr. Goehner, being a senator, while at Lincoln formed the acquaintance of some of the officials, and secured a hearing, which resulted in further negotiations, and finally a proposition was submitted to build during 1887 the F., E. & M. V. branch through our county, provided sixty thousand dollars in twenty year six per cent bonds were voted to the company. The proposition were submitted to the city and B, G, K, and M towns, as follows: City, $15,000; B, G, K, and M, $10,000 each, and L, $5,000. The propositions were voted by large majorities in each township, and the road was completed in the fall of 1887 and regular trains running in connection with the great system in the East and North. We are. happy to say that the road is well built in every particular, and we believe the people have made a good bargain in securing it. Since it has been opened for business there has been a marked change in the freight tariffs for the better. We are all satisfied that we now have a road that the B. & M. cannot swallow, for it would be like Jonah attempting to swallow the whale.

Now we have three railroads, because while two are under one management they give us additional outlets, and the new line will hold prices down just as well as if both its competitors were in different hands. The new road adds directly a large amount of taxable property to the county, opens up a vast new field for enterprise, and gives a new impetus to all classes of business.

Of the opening of four new stations we speak fully in other chapters; also of the improvements of 1887. We kindly refer the reader to the special papers on various subjects, institutions, and, things; also the very interesting historical letters and personal notices of men and women. These all go as part of the history of our county.