CHAPTER VII.
Seward City — Early History — First Buildings — First Store — The Growth The First Summer — Condition Op The Surrounding Country — The Public Well And Windmill — Saw-Mill — School District No. Nine Organized — Grist-Mill Built — Peddler’s Dilemma — Lots Given Away — Newspaper Established — Churchrs Built — Cloyd’s Addition — Harris, The Benefactor — The B. & N. Ignores Seward And The County, But Leaves Us Harris — Midland Pacific H. R. — The Bottom Op The Mill Fell Out — The Growth Of 1873 — South Seward And Its Effort To Supplant The Original Town — Incorporation As A Village — Incorporation As A City — List Of Town And City Officials — Financial Standing Of The City — Post-Office And Mail Routes — First Sabbath-School — Temperance Work - Possibilities As A Manufacturing City — Schools — Seward As We See It January 1, 1888.
SEWARD,
The county seat and principal city of Seward county, was founded by Lewis Moffitt, and surveyed as a town site in the spring of 1868, by Hon. Thomas Graham. At this time one hewed log cabin graced this beautiful plateau, which was the home of its founder, Mr. Moffitt. Lots were freely offered to those who desired to make improvements. John Roberts, Sr., built the first building for the new town, We well remember passing over the "site" one morning in June and seeing the pile of lumber lying just where Joel Tishue’s store now stands, and how our heart swelled with emotion as we witnessed the signs of the coming birth of a new city; and well do we remember standing in our cabin door and watching frame after frame arise, as they appeared week after week, and rejoicing to see what we long had waited for; and how exhilarating it seemed as we would leave the field for dinner, and on approaching the house and casting our eyes toward the embryo city, we would exclaim, "Mother, just see, there is another house going up in town." We remember that David Figard helped do the carpenter work on that little store. Beaty & Davis (J. N. Beaty and W. R Davis) were the pioneer merchants. They sold groceries and dry goods, and were right clever fellows, too; they used to credit us, and then take their pay in butter, eggs, cottonwood lumber, fire wood, and promises, and the promises were the most plenty of any article produced in those days. I shouldn’t wonder if they have some of those same promises yet.
N. Beaty built the first residence, and if you desire to see it just call at our house some day at dinner time and you will see the same old residence (our dining room). W. R. Davis erected the second where his house now stands, but in the march of progress it has given way for a better one. (Orlando Pierce claims his to be the third house.) Then Dr. Walker and W. H. Tuttle each commenced building about the same time. The Doctor’s old house now stands on 4th street, just east of the opera house, and Mr. Tuttle’s house was the beginning of what is now the Commercial House, but it was named the Blue Valley House. A public well was dug by E. L. Ellis and paid for by subscription. This old well stood in the center of the square. Some subscribed work, turning windlass, others cottonwood lumber for curbing. The well was a prime necessity to all the people, but the residents of the town were not able to pay all the cost of the well, and the farmers were invited to chip in, which they did freely. At first a bucket and windlass were used, but A. L. Strung, now of Omaha, had settled on section 9, just north of town, and he had secured an agency for the famous Halliday windmill, and he began to talk windmill for the public well. Mr. Strung had already put up one on his farm, which the people were invited to go and examine, and it being the first windmill whose sails were unfurled in all this great region, people were not slow to go and examine its work. The windmill was bargained for, by Mr. Strung being" the principal subscriber to the fund. It proved to be "a thing of beauty and a joy for years."
Will the reader just imagine how things looked around here, with only eight or nine small buildings on the town site, and all the great prairie to the north and west yet almost an unbroken wilderness, with only one low water bridge on Blue river within ten miles (the one where the iron bridge now spans the river); not a grove of planted timber or a shrub, except along the water-courses; not a single legal road yet leading to the town; with but about five hundred inhabitants in the county, and nearly all of them in the southern half; no church spire yet pointing toward heaven; only a log school-house, with turf-covered roof—and this was the situation when we went into winter quarters in December, 1868.
The spring of 1869 brought recruits. School district No. 9 was organized, and L. G. Johns built a little shanty where Butler block now stands, and the district rented it, and Mr. Johns opened a school in it. Mr. Manley built three small houses, one for a drug store, one for a hardware store, and one to live in. He painted them red, and that was the first attempt at "painting the town red." About this time H. L. Boyes & Son got their little mill to grinding grain, after a long and tedious struggle. Their saw-mill had been running the previous season, and had been of great value to the settlement. The grist-mill was a God-send to the village and country, as previous to this we had depended largely on the Camden mill, although it was five miles further from us than Milford mill Our reasons were that the Camden folks were our fast friends, and Milford folks were our rivals, and our prejudice could easily carry us five miles through a blizzard.
We must give an incident of one of our tripe to mill. In the summer of 1868 we were on the way to Camden with a load of wheat, and when nearing Clark’s branch, two miles below Seward, a peddler came rushing past in a tremendous hurry, fearing, we suppose, that we would get stuck in the mud at the ford, and that he would be hindered. There was a short turn in the road just where it went down the bank, and his ponies gave a sudden spring, and over went the wagon, and Mr. Peddler went sprawling into the soft mud; his wagon-box burst, and his fine jewelry, dry goods, laces, etc., were in like fix with himself, hopelessly imbedded in the mud. We rushed to his assistance, secured the team, and helped to pick his jewelry, combs, brushes, silks, and linen out of the horrible pit and spread them on the grass, and lamented with him the sad loss, when he finally gave way to grief in the following strain: "Mine Gott! Vat shall I do? Vat shall I do? I is in debt for dese goots. Mine Gott! Mine Gotti I goes and gets a rope and hangs mineseif. Mine Gott! Mine Gott!" He refused to be comforted, and when we finally left him he was still giving vent to his feelings in loud lamentations. We would like to know whether he found a rope while he was yet in the notion of hanging himself.
When the town was first platted it comprised eighty acres, the north half of the south-west quarter of section 21, town 11, range 8 east, and was made into thirty-two blocks, including the public square, which was dedicated to public uses. Great numbers of the more valuable lots were given away in order to get improvements started. John Roberts received several valuable lots. J. N. Beaty received block 22 entire, for his residence; W. R. Davis, E. 1/2 block 23, and the firm also received other valuable lots for business purposes; Tuttle received the quarter block now occupied by the Commercial House, and many others received lots, and perhaps it is not out of place to mention that W. W. Cox was presented with the lot upon which stands the Butler block, for services rendered in getting Seward started. We wish we had kept that present. Liberality and energy were manifested on every hand, and were more than anything else the cause of the success of the infant city.
The year 1869 gave us quite a number of new citizens and business enterprises. Fred Lankins opened a new general store. Mr. Humphrey put in a stock of drugs, and Manley a small stock of hardware. Charles Beaty was born in the spring of 1870, and received the gift of a lot, as an inducement to others to be born. Joel Tisbue opened his store on the east side of’ the square. Ewing built a hotel (St. Nicholas) one block south of the square. Beaty and Davis built a new store building (now the harness-shop of Mr. Landes). Several new residences were also built, and the frame school-house. This year brought the Nebraska Atlas, and the Presbyterian church was built. During this summer Wm. C. Cloyd bought of, Lewis Moffit the south half of the south half of the north-west quarter of section 21 (40 acres), and laid out Cloyd’s Addition. Cloyd platted a great number of business lots on Jackson avenue, surrounded block 85 with business lots facing it, and made a struggle to change the business center to that point, which created strife and contention during that fall and following winter. It was Mr. Cloyd’s intention to secure the location of the court-house on block 85, should we ever get the county seat. Mr. C. made a public sale in the fall of 1870, and a large number of lots were sold, at prices ranging from $15 to $80.
In the early spring of 1871 James H. Harris, "our one-eyed benefactor," put in his appearance and played a well-devised scheme on the proprietors and citizens. We very much dislike to be obliged in this work to be compelled to say anything that would in the least reflect upon the life and character of the dead, and in this case we will say just as little as is possible for a historian to say and do justice to the subject. Mr. Harris was a brother of the land commissioner of the B. & M. R. R., and about this time our people were much scared on account of a project being sprung to make a railroad town just at the center of the county. With much show of plausibility, Mr. Harris represented himself to be a man of ample means, and that he was in position to make Seward or kill it; that he could bring the B. & M. company to Seward or keep it away; and he worked upon the almost panic-stricken people until they were ready and anxious to do any thing to gain his influence and co-operation. The result of the final negotiations was that Mr. Moffit deeded Mr. Harris an undivided one-half of the S. E. quarter of section 20, and also the undivided half of the forty acres north of Cloyd’s addition, the only consideration being his influence and an agreement that he should make all public bequests necessary in all public enterprises, and be at all the expense of surveying the same into lots, but we understand that Mrs. Moffit did exact, and obtained, a silk dress pattern. But all this magnificent gift was not enough; Mr. Roberts must be wrung into the scheme, but be came out pretty well. Mr. H. must have the south eighty of Mr. Roberts’ homestead, or half interest in it. A compromise was effected by which the south half of the N. E. quarter of section 20 should in like manner be deeded to him and become a part of the new addition; but Mr. Roberts hardly, ever drives a bad bargain, and he will only do it provided Mr. Harris will secure a deed in fee simple of eighty acres where Mr. Roberts lives, Mr. R. to pay only $300 for it. Well, this is all fixed up, but our "benefactor" is not yet satisfied; he wants Mr. Cloyd’s interest at other people’s expense, and it would take something over $600, and this he did not have, or if he had, be did not propose to use his own money while other people were so ready to do him any kindness. This money must be raised by popular subscription, but the people did not have money. Well, a good note would be taken. So a note of six hundred dollars was made and was presented to the business men, while the terrible B. & M. club was held over their heads, and about twenty block-heads, ourself included, signed it. The miserable sell was soon discovered, and there was some very unpretty words used and a great amount of self abuse indulged in, but the note was in a Lincoln bank and must be paid, or a racket would ensue. When the note became due there was some stubbornness manifest, and a suit was commenced. A large number of the signers were not to be found, and others were financially played out; still there were enough yet to fight, but after comparing notes with one another, ten of us offered to pay $80 each, or $800 in full satisfaction, and accept as our pay the experience.
Well, the large new addition known as Harris, Moffit & Roberts’ addition was laid out, which comprises two hundred and eighty acres of land. A great number of our present residents know how valuable that influence has been.
But one good result followed: confidence was restored for a little while, and we all were resting under the impression that we had done something very smart, when all of a sudden we woke up to find that Mr. H. had about the same influence with the B. & M. folks as any other dead-beat; that their road would not touch Seward county, much lees Seward. But this much was settled: we had Harris on our hands, and the railroad would not kill us, for it was out of reach.
This year we had the acquisition of the Reporter, quite a goodly number of new buildings, many new people, and in the fall by sharp turns of the wrist we got the county seat. We were naturally gathering force and wealth as the county settled around us, but the progress was slow. Our railroad bond battles occupied our time and thoughts pretty effectually during the first half of 1872, and not much was done while the railroad was an uncertainty.
[The bond fights are discussed in another place, and we pass them here.] When it became a certainty that we were to be blessed with a railroad there was a marked improvement.
We must now go back to 1870 and notice a calamity that befell the town and community. Mr. Boyes' mill had become so loaded with grain, principally gnats, that the bottom fell out of it, and the community were surprised one morning to see perhaps a thousand sacks of grain and all the machinery of the mill in the river. This was a sad blow for the owners and for the community, but immediate steps were taken to rebuild the mill, and during the fall everything was set to rights and at work.
Perhaps it is well here to describe the capacity of the water-power of the river here. Mr. Boyes informs us that with only eight-foot head they have fifty horse power, and a head of sixteen feet can easily be obtained, which would make its capacity immensely great. Mr. B. says Blue river is the most certain mill stream that he ever saw.
During the autumn of 1872 there were numerous accessions to our business houses, and great numbers of residences were also added. W. H. Tuttle built a new hotel on the corner of Seward and 8th streets (Park House); many new workshops of various kinds were opened in anticipation of the new business when the cars should arrive. A new life was infused into the community, everybody’s step was more elastic, all classes of people wore smiles on their faces, property advanced rapidly in value and was ready sale. We were happy in the anticipation of a glorious future.
Just as the sun began to shine out brightly in the early spring of 1878, we were gladdened by the whistle of the locomotive. "Oh! was sound ever so sweet!" Inasmuch as the situation was discussed in a former chapter we will only add points not mentioned there. We rejoiced that we had a railroad, and it was a great blessing to us, although it cost us a large sum of money, yet it was worth much more to us than the cost. In other words, we made a good bargain, and yet our freight and passenger tariffs were scandalously high. The fare to Lincoln was $1.26, and freight on wheat, our staple product, was fifty-four cents per hundred pounds in car lots to Chicago, and all other rates correspondingly high.
The depot being placed at the foot of the hill, near Boyes’ mill, Mr. Boyes thought wise to lay out what should properly have been an addition to Seward, but it was platted as an independent town and named South Seward, and what was still more strange, a margin was left between the new town and the old of sixty feet, which has been known as the "dead line." There were some other peculiarities about the new town. The proprietor carefully left his mill and his own residence outside of the platted town. There was great energy displayed on the part of the proprietor and the new-corners to over-shadow the old village. Several grain houses were erected, a mammoth lumber yard (Mohawk) was opened, and a large hotel erected by Geo. Boyes; also great numbers of dwellings; and it having the depot, mill, grain houses, and the great lumber yard, they had some show to rival Seward, but their efforts all proved abortive. Seward was too firmly planted and deep rooted to be overshadowed by a sprout of a summer’s growth. South Seward, however, was very tenacious of life, and although her greatness (what she bad) and all her expectations were gone, yet she maintained her separate organization fur many years, and never united her destinies with the city until May 30th, 1886, when she became attached, "dead line" and all, to the city, and henceforth she is a part of our city.
Having noted in the "Reminiscences" the more important events in the growth and advancement, and as there are special chapters on the more noteworthy institutions of the city, and on the city government, which will comprise as much of interest as it would be possible to crowd into the limited space, we refer the reader to the interesting chapters furnished by able pens of the history of our churches, schools, G. A. R. poet, Odd Fellows, and Masons; also chapters on post-office, agricultural society, etc., etc., and finally the closing chapter on Seward as we see it January 1, 1888.
INCORPORATION OF SEWARD AS A VILLAGE
Occurred in the first days of April, 1870. (The records are conflicting: in one place they say April 2d, and in another they say April 5th.) The county commissioners passed an order as the statute provides declaring the village incorporated, and Dr. L. Walker, F. F. Larkins, W. R. Davis, Geo. Crumb, and Sam Manly were appointed trustees, and O. T. B. Williams, attorney for the corporation.
June 5, 1871, we find S. E. Ewing and Wm. Olmstead on the board, but can find no record of their election. We also find W. B. Thorpe, clerk, L. Pariah, marshal, H. A. Lewis, treasurer, H. P. Kennard, assessor, and Thomas Darnall, attorney. Street commissioner, E. W. Clinton.
May 10, 1872, L. G. Johns, W. H. Tuttle, V. Daniels, Sam Stevenson, and H. Diers took the oath of office as trustees, and at their first meeting O. T. B. Williams was elected clerk, Geo. Whiting, marshal, and I. B. Compton, fire warden. O. T. B. Williams was also elected assessor.
March 20, 1878, the council voted an appropriation of fifty dollars for a free dinner to a party of Lincoln excursionists.
May 5, 1878, Wm. Hays, Vinal Daniels, T. L. Norval, Herman There, and Sam Stevenson were elected trustees. Sam Stevenson was elected chairman of the board on the tenth ballot; L. O. Johns, treasurer, O. T. B. Williams, clerk. J. W. .McCabe was elected marshal September 22, 1878, R. S. Norval took the census of the town, and his returns show a population of five hundred and seventy-five.
September 24, 1878, ordinance No. 28, organizing Seward as a city of the second class, was offered by T. L. Norval and adopted, and an election was ordered for October 18, 1878, for city officers. At said election A. Castle was elected mayor, W. R. Davis, police judge, J. W. McCabe, marshal, T. L. Norval, clerk, V. Daniels, city engineer, and W. B. Thorpe, treasurer. Thos. Graham and A. J. Combs, councilmen in 1st ward, and Wm. Leese and J. R. Paul in the 2d ward.
The city council passed their first ordinance January 2, 1874, providing for a poll tax.
Feb. 17th, a resolution of inquiry in regard to protection from fire was passed, in which they required of J. N. Edwards that he furnish information about the cost of a dozen rubber buckets, 48 feet of’ ladder, and some other tools, etc.
April 7, 1874, the following persons were elected city officers:
Thos. Graham, mayor; T. J. Hamilton, police judge; S.H. Marshall, city engineer; N. C. Rogers, clerk; Win. Wright, marshal; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; Sam Stevenson and Joel Tishue, councilmen in 1st ward; J. M. Strong and Ed. McIntyre, in the 2d ward.Nov. 28d, city council voted to donate their salary to the city on account of hard times.
Recapitulation of the financial condition of the city since it was incorporated:
Warrants drawn to date $1387.52 Amount warrants canceled $674.54 Amount outstanding to balance 712.98 Delinquent tax of 1873 122.81 Delinquent tax list of 1874 559.58 Total 682.14 Amount in treasury 108.24 ------- Total resources $788 88 Dated March 80, 1875.At the April election of 1875 the following persons were elected to fill the various offices: Ed. McIntyre, mayor; S. B. Mills, judge; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; T. L. Norval, clerk; J. W. Gladwish,
marshal; R. B. Norval and H. W. Hageman, councilmen in 1st ward; and H. W. Ragan and J. F. Goehner, councilmen for 2d ward.
During 1875 the grades of the principal streets were established.
April 8, 1876, the following persons were declared elected city officers: I. B. Barter, mayor; Thos. Osborne, marshal; F. H. Newton, clerk; William Lease, police judge; E. A. Polly, city engineer; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; James Reed, councilman for 1st ward; J. F. Goehner, councilman for 2d ward.
Amount of taxes, including licenses and fines, during 1876, $3,196.89.
April, 1877, E. McIntyre was again elected mayor; J. D. Edwards, clerk; police judge, O. T. B. Williams; treasurer, A. J. Callender; marshal, Wm. Ashton; street commissioner, B.. McCrosson; councilmen, N. C. Rogers and H. W. Ragan.
And in 1878, T. L. Norval, mayor; clerk, J. D. Edwards; councilmen, John Kribbler, B. W. Long, and L B. Barter; treasurer, L. G. Johns; police judge, L. W. Hart.
In 1879, mayor, E. K. Dunbaugh; police judge, J. D. Edwards; clerk, J. L. McPheely; treasurer, W. B. Herrick; councilmen, J. S. Henderson and T. F,. Saunders.
In 1880, C. W. Barckley, mayor; J. D. Edwards, clerk; L. O. Johns, treasurer; police judge, T. L. McClean; councilmen, S. B.. Douglas., L Walker, B.. B.. Shick, and J. O. Berdrow.
In 1881, W. O. Whitcomb, mayor; E. A. Polly, clerk; police judge, J. L McPheely; treasurer, T. F. Sanders; councilmen, W. E. Chapin, J. Tishue, and Herman Diers,
In 1882, W. O. Whitcomb, mayor; T. E. Sanders, clerk; treasurer, Wm. Leese; councilmen, J. S. Henderson and B.. E. Dunphy.
In 1888, Whitcomb was for the third time elected mayor; clerk, A. J. Callender; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; councilmen, John Mulfinger and John Zimmerer.
In 1884, mayor, W. B,. Davis; clerk, C. S. Ailing; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; police judge, Frank P. Pingree; councilmen, Samuel Welch and T. E. Sanders.
In 1886, O. C. Reynolds, mayor; clerk, C. W. Rein; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; police judge, Louis Stahl; councilmen, O. A. Merriam and J. C. Mulfinger.
In 1888, Ed. McIntyre, mayor; clerk, C. W. Bain; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; police judge, I. D. Neihardt; councilmen, J. H. Betzer and Peter Goehner.
In 1887, Ed. McIntyre, mayor; clerk, O. F. Dickman; police judge, I. D. Neihardt; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; councilmen, Samuel Pence and J. C. Mulfinger.
POST-OFFICE AND MAIL FACILITIES THROUGH THE YEARS OF SEWARD’S LIFE.
In 1864, 1885, and 1866, the settlers of this vicinity got their mail in a sort of haphazard way. Some of it was directed to Camden, some to Lancaster, and some to Nebraska City, and perhaps some to Plattsmouth; and it was the custom for every person visiting any of the offices to enquire for all the neighborhood.
In the winter of 1866—67 the citizens met and consulted about getting a post-office. It was urged that Lewis Moffitt ought to take the office, as he lived on the prospective town site, but he declined the honor, and the settlement was nonplussed and did not know just what to do.
During that winter the writer took it into his head that he would try and find a solution to the question, and wrote to our delegate in congress (John Taffe) and begged him to go over to the department and secure the appointment of Lewis Moffitt as postmaster for Seward, Neb., which be immediately proceeded to do, and all of a sudden Mr. Moffitt received his appointment. He felt sold, but it would not do to back square out, so he qualified and accepted the inevitable; and when he fully realized the munificent salary of $1 per month or twelve dollars year he became fully reconciled. Now we had a post-office, but no mail route. Government allowed two dollars per quarter for mail service, but men were not quite so anxious for place then as now, and we had to hold out other and better inducements. So we made up a pony purse sufficient to pay one dollar and fifty cents per week, and hired E. L. Clark, a one-armed soldier, to make the trip once a week to Camden at the freight road. Mr. Clark made his trips on foot and carried the mail in an old haversack, so we were pretty well supplied with mail facilities, but it cost many of us pretty dearly. Mr. Moffitt retained the office until July, 1868, when he resigned his lucrative trust to W. R. Davis. Mr. Davis held the office in the store of Beaty and Davis. His salary was twelve dollars per year at first, but under fine manipulation an advance to twenty-five dollars was soon secured. At that time the pay of the postmaster was gauged by the amount of postage sold, and friend Davis urged everbody to take just as many postage stamps as possible in the way of change, etc. He had to make a good showing and he did. Postage stamps were good property and everybody had plenty of them.
Our first government mail route was established in July, 1869, between here and Lincoln, via the Oak Groves. At first it was a weakly concern, and within the following year it became a semiweekly, and finally a tri-weekly. Some said it was tri-weekly because they tried every week to get mail through but frequently failed. Mr. Davis retained the office until the spring of 1871, when he resigned and E. L. Clark secured the appointment. The salary had advanced to fifty dollars per year under Mr. Davis’ administration, and his last quarter had shown such an increase of business that the salary was raised to $240 per year, and in 1872 it was further advanced to $320. L. G. Johns was appointed in January, 1878, and held the office until January, 1877. His salary was increased by degrees until it reached $1,800 per annum and $240 per year for clerk hire. When be took possession there was one daily mail from Lincoln. During 1878 railroad mail service was introduced. There were established during his administration star routes as follows: To York, tri-weekly; Crete to Columbus, tri-weekly; Orton and Stromsburg, semi-weekly; Seward and Dorchester, tri-weekly.
Money order office was established in July, 1872. The largest money order business was done in 1873, prior to the opening of our first bank.
When Mr. Johns took possession the fixtures of the office consisted of a desk and a case of pigeon-holes worth about $20. He placed about $300 worth of fixtures in the office.
Redford received his appointment in January, 1877, and held the place about four years, when Chas. Vanpelt received the appointment, in 1881. During Mr. V.’s tenure the Morris keyless lock was introduced into the office. During his term the salary was at the maximum, or $1,700 per annum, where it remains to the present.
There were two semi-weekly star routes until about 1884, and there were during his whole term four daily mails by rail.
John Kittle received his appointment July 1, 1885. Star routes all closed. Six daily mails, and arrangements nearly perfected for two more. Present value of fixtures, about $2,000, having just put in a new and most complete outfit of improved Morris lock boxes, which is said to be one of the finest in the West. Box rent now amounts to $170 per quarter. Money order business is about $2,000 per quarter.
Thus we have endeavored to trace as nearly as possible, step by step, our post-office business and mail service, through all its stages from the beginning of our settlement here until the present.
We cannot close this chapter without a word in regard to other post-offices in the county.
The first office was established at the old Camden bridge, just by the south line of the county and at the forks of the river, at the old ranch, in 1863.
We now have eleven offices, viz.: Seward, Milford, Pleasant Dale, Ruby, Germantown, Tamora, Utica, Staplehurst, Orton, Marysville, Beaver Crossing, and three new offices that will come into existence era this will be read, viz.: "B," Goehner, and Hunkins, each on the F., L & M. V. road.
FIRST SABBATH-SCHOOL IN SEWARD.
In the mouth of May, 1866, a union Sabbath-school was organized at the log cabin of Lewis Moffitt. The families engaged in the enterprise were Grandfather Imlay’s, Rev. E. L. Clark’s, R. T. Gale’s, Wm. Imlay’s, Mr. Moffitt’s, and W. W. Cox’s. We believe this was the first Sabbath-school between Lancaster (Lincoln) and Denver. The school was a success and produced excellent results. Previous to this, meetings for Bible reading had been held at the different houses in the neighborhood.
There are now in the county about thirty Sabbath-schools in flourishing condition. Most of them have good libraries and nearly all of them maintain their schools all the year.
TEMPERANCE WORK.
Temperance work commenced at a very early day in the history of Seward county. As early as 1869 a lodge of Good Templars was organized in the old school-house, and flourished for a number of years, exerting a wide and salutary influence, especially on the younger people. We remember that many people were regular attendants who lived from seven to ten miles distant. About the same date there was a lodge instituted at Milford. In 1874 a lodge of Sons of Temperance was started and did good work, which was followed by another Good Templars’ lodge.
In 1874 the women’s crusade was made, and created a wide interest. Many of the best Christian ladies of the city united in their efforts to suppress the liquor traffic, by visiting daily the saloons and earnestly pleading with the saloon-keepers and their customers. These ladies would fervently pray with these abandoned men, and implore them in the name of their divine Master to abandon their ungodly ways, and lead better lives. These efforts were persevered in for about six weeks, and exerted a good influence. It was sowing good seed, and it did not all fall on stony places, but some found lodgment in good ground and is bringing forth good fruit.
In 1872, after a night’s carousal on the part of a number of men, they were suddenly awakened by a sense of their own shame, and they agreed with one another that that night’s debauch should be their last, and they bound themselves by a most solemn oath, which was attested by an officer with his official signature, in which they pledged not only their sacred honor but their solemn oath that they would forever abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage. This same document emerged from that place the next morning to be signed by the people in sympathy with the movement, and was signed by a large number of people, and we are happy to say that we believe that many have sacredly kept that oath, and it happily proved to be a good turn in the lives of some who may be counted among our best citizens. It is our pleasure to have the custody of that old document.
The Good Templars did a noble work for many years, and in 1876 the Temple of Honor was instituted, and created a sensation, and was the means of much good for a year or more. Internal dissensions caused its early demise and cut short a life that promised valuable service in the temperance work of the community. Very many were rescued and many saved from falling by the Temple of Honor. Other attempts were made later to revive the Temple and rebuild its broken walls, but a deep-seated prejudice so filled the minds of the years, exerting a wide and salutary influence, especially on the younger people. We remember that many people were regular attendants who lived from seven to ten miles distant. About the same date there was a lodge instituted at Milford. In 1874 a lodge of Sons of Temperance was started and did good work, which was followed by another Good Templars’ lodge.
In 1874 the women’s crusade was made, and created a wide interest. Many of the best Christian ladies of the city united in their efforts to suppress the liquor traffic, by visiting daily the saloons and earnestly pleading with the saloon-keepers and their customers. These ladies would fervently pray with these abandoned men, and implore them in the name of their divine Master to abandon their ungodly ways, and lead better lives. These efforts were persevered in for about six weeks, and exerted a good influence. It was sowing good seed, and it did not all fall on stony places, but some found lodgment in good ground and is bringing forth good fruit.
In 1872, after a night’s carousal on the part of a number of men, they were suddenly awakened by a sense of their own shame, and they agreed with one another that that night’s debauch should be their last, and they bound themselves by a most solemn oath, which was attested by an officer with his official signature, in which they pledged not only their sacred honor but their solemn oath that they would forever abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage. This same document emerged from that place the next morning to be signed by the people in sympathy with the movement, and was signed by a large number of people, and we are happy to say that we believe that many have sacredly kept that oath, and it happily proved to be a good turn in the lives of some who may be counted among our best citizens. It is our pleasure to have the custody of that old document.
The Good Templars did a noble work for many years, and in 1876 the Temple of Honor was instituted, and created a sensation, and was the means of much good for a year or more. Internal dissensions caused its early demise and cut short a life that promised valuable service in the temperance work of the community. Very many were rescued and many saved from falling by the Temple of Honor.. Other attempts were made later to revive the Temple and rebuild its broken walls, but a deep-seated prejudice so filled the minds of the people that the new organization failed to accomplish its purpose. A Red Ribbon club was organized by the lamented John B. Finch, in 1879, and secured a very large membership, and was a power in Seward for a year or more. The Good Templars’ lodge was again organized and flourished for a year, and was followed by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Young Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Of these the reader will learn more from a chapter devoted to their work, furnished by their order, as their organization is yet a working force. A Prohibition club was organized about 1888, and a Reform club was organized by C. J. Holt in 1885. The Reform club work is remembered by our people for grand work and grand results. They secured columns in the city papers and published many productions on different phases of temperance work, and together with the lectures and discussions at their weekly meetings were instrumental in doing much good.
Just as the year 1887 is closing an Anti-license club is organized that promises to be a power for good.
POSSIBILITIES OF SEWARD AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER.
The wiser political economists have concluded that the best interests of the whole people demand that the farm and the workshop should be as nearly side by side as possible. Where the crude material is grown or digged, there it should be wrought into proper shape for the use of map. Here in Seward county are countless millions of material that needs to be transformed into products of use and luxury. The cattle grazing upon a thousand hills call for dairy products, and packing-houses, tanneries, and soap factories. Our sheep call for carding machines, spinning-jennies, and cloth factories, and tailoring establishments. Our hogs are inviting packing-houses. Our flax demands oil mills, and twine mills, and rope factories. Our huge straw stacks speak loudly in behalf of paper mills. Our illimitable corn fields are a standing invitation to more and more feeders, corn starch factories, hominy mills, etc. Our inexhaustible soils, rich in all ingredients favorable for the production of vegetables and fruits, of the best, call for more canning establishments.
We have done remarkably well during the year 1887. Our progress in the direction of manufacturing has been very satisfactory, but we have only commenced, and it seems to us to be no stretch of the imagination when we venture the prediction that ere the close of the century we may have a hundred manufacturing establishments within the city. At present we have six arms of railway reaching in as many directions, and a certain promise of more in the near future. We are happily situated in the midst of the finest fields for the production of raw material in the West, and with such grand facilities for reaching out to the world’s markets, nothing should hinder the investment of capital in these enterprises.
SEWARD SCHOOLS.
The first school-house built on the town site was the frame house that is now the residence of Hugh Hunter, and it stood on same ground now occupied by the high school building. The schools, previous to the fall of 1870, were taught in the old log cabin, in the winter of 1866-67 by W. W. Cox, and in the following summer by S. C. Roes, and by Miss Ella Tuttle (now Mrs. Martin Liggett, of Broken Bow) in 1868. In the summer of 1869 the old cabin was moved away, and what was known as the old sway-back house, on the site of H. Vanderhoof’s house, was rented, and Miss Mattie Boyes (now Mrs. Kellogg Olmstead, of Orleans, Neb.) taught. Then L. G. Johns taught in a little building where Butler’s block now stands; also, Miss McKillip (now Mrs. L. G. Johns) taught in the same place.
H. M. Coleman taught the first term in the frame school-house, and was followed by J. D. Messenger. Prof. O. S. Ingham taught several terms of a private school in the old court-house, in 1872; also, Miss Ella Benson (now Mrs. C. L. Lewis, of Rapid City, D. T.) taught one or two terms in the same place, and this lady was afterwards employed in the various departments of the schools for twelve consecutive years.
The high school building was erected in 1874, and Prof. Ingham was principal for two years, with three assistants—Mrs. Paddock, Mrs. Merrill (now of California), and Miss Benson. The principals since that date have been: —. Phillips, H. H. Wilson, J. M. Scott, H. Cummings, W. J. Wise, and N. F. Daum.
The board of education have found it necessary to add more and more buildings, until at present there are four primary buildings, and
but we have only commenced, and it seems to us to be no stretch of the imagination when we venture the prediction that ere the close of’ the century we may have a hundred manufacturing establishments within the city. At present we have six arms of railway reaching in as many directions, and a certain promise of more in the near future. We are happily situated in the midst of the finest fields for the production of raw material in the West, and with such grand facilities for reaching out to the world’s markets, nothing should hinder the investment of capital in these enterprises.SEWARD SCHOOLS.
The first school-house built on the town site was the frame house that is now the residence of Hugh Hunter, and it stood on same ground now occupied by the high school building. The schools, previous to the fall of 1870, were taught in the old log cabin, in the winter of 1866-67 by W. W. Cox, and in the following summer by S. C. Roes, and by Miss Ella Tuttle (now Mrs. Martin Liggett, of Broken Bow) in 1868. In the summer of 1869 the old cabin was moved away, and what was known as the old sway-back house, on the site of H. Vanderhoof’s house, was rented, and Miss Mattie Boyes (now Mrs. Kellogg Olmstead, of Orleans, Neb.) taught. Then L. G. Johns taught in a little building where Butler’s block now stands; also, Miss McKilIip (now Mrs. L. G. Johna) taught in the same place.
H. M. Coleman taught the first term in the frame school-house, and was followed by J. D. Messenger. Prof. O. S. Ingham taught several terms of a private school in the old court-house, in 1872; also, Miss Ella Benson (now Mrs. C. L. Lewis, of Rapid City, D. T.) taught one or two terms in the same place, and this lady was afterwards employed in the various departments of’ the schools for twelve consecutive years.
The high school building was erected in 1874, and Prof. Ingham was principal for two years, with three assistants—Mrs. Paddock, Mrs. Merrill (now of California), and Miss Benson. The principals since that date have been: —. Phillips, H. H. Wilson, J. M. Scott, H. Cummings, W. J. Wise, and N. F. Daum.
The board of education have found it necessary to add more and more buildings, until at present there are four primary buildings, and they have also added to the high school building so that it has near double its original capacity. The building is amply supplied with all modern apparatus and improvements. It requires twelve teachers to manage the various departments of the schools. Ten respectable classes have graduated from the high school. The present cost of maintaining the schools is about $5,600 per annum. The attendance has increased through the years from 32 to about 500, and is still rapidly increasing.
Some of the more distinguished members of’ the school board through the years were—Claudius Jones, R. S. Norval, H. L. Boyes, O. Babson, Jr., Mrs. E. M. Spear, Mrs. S. C. Langworthy.
From the able corps of teachers that have helped to build our schools, and that have finished their work, we mention A. A. Dershimer, who died at his post, and the noble and intelligent Miss Birge, of Milford, and Miss June Taylor.
SEWARD AS WE SEE IT JANUARY 1, 1888.
Beautiful city! She that has been celebrated in poetry and song as the "sleeping beauty of the Blue valley" has awakened to a new life. She baa awakened from her restful sleep refreshed and strengthened, and to-day she sits a "very queen" upon this commanding hill, overlooking vast stretches of scenery most magnificent, with the meandering river gently gliding by her feet and stretching from away in the northward to the southward, marked by its long line of timber in graceful curves, loops, and bows, singing in its ripples a sweet song of her power to turn the wheels of mills and factories as she wends her way toward the sunny south; Plum creek, coming from the north-east, adding a charm as it winds among the beautiful farms and meadows, with its clusters of timber and varied landacapes; and from the north-west comes that grand stream, with name immortal, Lincoln creek, through "verdant field.," a "very paradise."
Here she sits rejoicing in the richness and splendor of the surrounding. These lands, rich in verdure, rich in all things necessary to make happy homes, orchards, meadows, and fruitful fields, rich in the "cattle upon a thousand hills," rich in hogs and horses, rich in its pure, sweet water and running streams, rich in railways and all the means of an extended commerce, rich in factories and workshop., rich in merchant princes, rich in churches with their spires pointing to the only better land, rich in Schools and all opportunities for mental culture and advancement, and "last, but not least," rich in strong arms and brave hearts, ready and willing to pursue in the pathway of progress and achievement.
In the blazing light of the electric torch we may count to-night near three thousand souls within the city, and quite a large number in its immediate environs, which will soon become a part of the city. Forty substantial brick business houses grace our streets, many of which would be a credit to the largest cities. Three great lines of railway reaching in six directions, and making accessible to US the whole business of the world—the silks and teas of the Orient, the fruits of the Occident, the gold, silver, and rich gems of the mountains, the products of the great plains, the factories of New England, and all the vast and varied interests of our great country. Three lines of telegraph bearing to us on lightning’s wing words of hope and cheer from all lands. A telephone through which we may talk to one another and to a hundred cities beside. An electric light to brighten our pathway. Well may we exclaim in the language of the old prophet, "Our light is come and the glory of God is risen upon us."
Our Morris keyless lock factory, one of the most extensive manufacturing institutions in the West, and the most national in its character of any factory in Nebraska, in fact we may say the field of, its operations is the world. Its trade will soon reach into all lands, even to the islands of the sea. It is a matter of pride that the inventor of the lock is a citizen of Seward. Our oat meal mill, with its capacity of a hundred barrels of meal per day and using a thousand bushels of oats per day, freighting in and out from six to eight hundred car loads of grain and products per year. Our canning establishment, with its enormous capacity for using vegetables and storing them up for winter food for tens of thousands, and giving a grand market for the produce of the farms and gardens, and giving out labor for hundreds of men, women, and children. A machine shop and foundry of large capacity, a creamery, four banks, with a multitude of mercantile establishments in all the various lines of trade, with one of the beet hotels in the West, "The Windsor," and several smaller ones, and numerous boarding houses, six restaurants, and nearly a hundred workshops, large and Small, including factories, etc., etc.
We mention blacksmiths, wagon makers, wire fence, tailoring, dress makers, millinery, cigars, broom makers, tinners, barbers, carpenters, newspapers, butchers, photographs, etc. With one of the best graded schools of our state, with a fine structure for the high school seven departments, and four primary buildings, and employing twelve teachers. With eight church edifices, with large congregations of worshipers and flourishing Sabbath-schools. A magnificent Odd Fellows hail, a good opera house, three weekly newspapers, an excellent flouring mill, many splendid residences and beautiful yards, splendid streets, and handsome parks, all amply supplied with trees and shrubs lending their enchantment and refreshing shade.
During the year just closed the growth in population and improvement has been wonderful. Her waste places have been made glad by the accession of a splendid new railroad, of three great new factories, of’ a host of new buildings, several almost princely dwellings, one grand church, a great host of new people, and best of all a perfect restoration of confidence, and closing the old year with the electric torch—a grand triumph. We close this sketch of this beautiful city, our home, feeling the inspiration of our hope, always buoyant, now doubly sure that the possibi1ities of Seward are grand.