BY REVEREND C. H. FRADY OF BILLINGS, MONTANA

     (217) OUR concern for the future too quickly casts a shadow
over the things of the past. People, generally, do not care so much for the things of the past, its achievements and failures, as they do about the opportunities and allurements of the future. However anxiously we may be rushing on for the things of the future, let us understand that we cannot detach ourselves from the past. Every one filleth a niche in the bulwarks of time, and each generation buildeth a stepping-stone between the two eternities.

     Preceding the main subject of my article for Antelope County history, I wish to give a few instances of my connection with the county of earlier date. During the summer of 1871, as surveyor in Pierce County, I located some claims for homesteaders in the northeastern part of Antelope County. One day, in the summer 1871, looking southwest from my home, located on Willow Creek, near the present townsite of Pierce, I saw a mirage in which appeared a grove of timber. I could see the trees distinctly. The day following, together with my hired man, we took my teams, a span of horses and a yoke of cattle, started for said grove, thinking it was not far distant. On and on we went, across the stretches until nearly night before we reached the grove, which was located about one mile northwest of Mr. John Hunt's present home in Antelope County. I think it was called "Elm Grove." We saw no ax marks in the grove. We secured two wagon loads of fine hackberry wood for our prize.

     Again, during the summer of 1871, a state road was located between Columbus, Platte County, and Niobrara, (218) Knox County. The counties through which the road ran bore a proportionate part of the expense. The northeastern part of Antelope County was crossed. Afterwards I bought up the claims against Pierce and Antelope counties from George W. Quimby, the surveyor. It was in April, 1873, just after the terrible snowstorm and blizzard on the 14th, 15th, and 16th, that on horseback I undertook to go to Oakdale to present the claims before the honorable board of county commissioners. It was a hard jaunt for my horse on account of the deep snowdrifts. I reached the bluffs north of Crandall Hopkins' place and rode across the deep gulches over the hard-packed snow. My horse sank but little in the drifts, and picked the twigs off the tops of some oak-trees which were nearly buried in the snow. I rode down into the valley at the Rollins ranch. There I saw a memorable sight. It was a large number of fresh cattle hides all stretched out on a fence. The Rollins people had lost heavily in cattle during the late blizzard. I kept on up the valley until I reached the home of Judge Snider near the Elkhorn, opposite Oakdale. I had to leave my horse there. The river was gorged with snow, over which I crossed afoot. Arriving at Oakdale, I found the board of commissioners in session. They considered my claim and allowed the same. I sold the warrant granted to Judge I. N. Taylor.

     In 1873 to 1876 I was superintendent of public instruction of Pierce County. Among those who applied for certificates to teach in the county were Thomas Warner of Oakdale, Mrs. Waterman of Willowdale, and Miss Lizzie Wright of Elm Grove township. Each received a certificate and taught in Pierce County.

     In 1875 I was a member of the Nebraska Constitutional Convention held at Lincoln, together with R. C. Eldridge of Antelope County, and sat in the legislature in 1877 with William B. Lambert of Neligh. In both assemblies I did all in my power for the benefit of my constituency as well as for that of theirs.

     (219) May 1, 1881, under the auspices of the American Sunday School Union I began work for the society, having northern Nebraska and territory west for my field. The first month I worked in Knox County. Then was detained by the sickness and death of my wife at Plainview. I moved to Neligh the latter part of June and canvassed Antelope County at once. I found in the county sixteen regularly organized Sunday schools, having seventy teachers and six hundred scholars, viz;

     Neligh Union, 9 teachers, 75 scholars, William Lawrence, superintendent.

     Oakdale Union, 9 teachers, 75 scholars, Mrs. P. E. Ritz, superintendent.

     Elm Grove Union, 3 teachers, 25 scholars, G. S. Mills, superintendent.

     Pebble Creek Union, 3 teachers, 28 scholars, Mrs. D. J. Taylor, superintendent.

     Divide Union, 3 teachers, 27 scholars, J. L. Whitney, superintendent.

     Pleasant Valley Union, 3 teachers, 25 scholars, A. J. Seaberry, superintendent.

     Ives Creek Union, 3 teachers, 25 scholars, C. K. Motter, superintendent.

     Bethel Union, 3 teachers, 30 scholars, C. M. Seeley, superintendent.

     Clear Creek Union, 3 teachers, 20 scholars, S. S. Murphy, superintendent.

     Millerborough Union, 9 teachers, 75 scholars, H. Miller, superintendent.

     Saint Clair Union, 4 teachers, 30 scholars, C. K. Motter, superintendent.

     Cedar Creek Union, 4 teachers, 30 scholars, William H. Whitmore, superintendent.

     West Cedar Valley Union, 3 teachers, 30 scholars, O. Eggleston, superintendent. 

     (220) Clay Ridge Union, 4 teachers, 50 scholars, H. Stebbins, superintendent.

     Frenchtown Union, 4 teachers, 30 scholars, Alex Graybiel, superintendent.

     Glenalpine Union, 3 teachers, 25 scholars, W. B. McQueen, superintendent.

     Professor Wightman, Sunday school missionary, York, Nebraska, in 1880 visited Antelope County; while present he organized a Sunday school, at the Horne school-house. The school closed in the fall. It was reorganized by I. P. Gage in July, 1881, with 4 teachers and 35 scholars, Mrs. Palmer, superintendent. During the remainder of the year 1881 I organized five other Sunday schools in the county. The first at Clearwater station on July 3, enrolled 3 teachers and 21 scholars, Mrs. J. H. Kelsey, superintendent. The sessions of the school at first were held in the residence of Mr. Snider. The second school, organized July 17, six miles northwest of Neligh in a little, board house belonging to James Crum, consisted of 4 teachers and 35 scholars; I. E. Keith was chosen superintendent. Mr. Crum named the school "The Grecian Bend," which name the community bears to date. The third school was started at the New England Valley school-house July 24th, having 4 teachers and 31 scholars, Mr. George Gatenby acting as superintendent. On the same date, I also organized the fourth school at Willowdale, with 3 teachers and 36 scholars, Mrs. Morrison, superintendent. And the fifth school was commenced at the home of Grandma Aken, 7 miles north of Neligh, with 5 teachers and 40 scholars, WhitneyWhitney, superintendent.

     At the close of the year 1881 Antelope County had 22 Sunday schools with an enrollment of 75 teachers and 800 scholars. October 6 to 7, 1881, a largely attended Sunday school convention was held at Oakdale. The county Sunday school association was reorganized.

     During the year 1882 the Sunday school work throughout the county developed very satisfactorily. Twelve new (221) schools were added to the county list, having an enrollment of 45 teachers and 377 scholars.

     Sunday schools organized by others: the Welcome, Rev. D. S. Hulbert, superintendent; Center Park, E. Harlan Clark, superintendent; Sunnyside, J. C. Johnson, superintendent; Union Valley, C. Olliver, superintendent; Antelope Creek, O. Eggleston, superintendent; Little, A. Curtis, superintendent.

     Organized by C. H. Frady: Eureka, Mrs. J. W. English, superintendent; Royal, J. H. Womeldorf, superintendent; Jessup, John Gardner, superintendent; Swedish American, Charles Nelson, superintendent; Moran, L. Rice, superintendent; Pleasant Dale, W. A. Chumbly, superintendent. Also reorganized the St. Clair school February 12th, Mr. C. K. Motter, superintendent. Gain in the school over the past year, 3 teachers and 30 scholars. Reorganized the Pebble Creek school, C. L. Grover, superintendent. The schools generally in the county increased in attendance, especially at Oakdale and Neligh. By the close of the year there were in the county 34 schools having 150 teachers and 1,350 scholars; total, 1,500 persons. The Sunday school association promoted the standard of work in the county and held its annual convention at Neligh.

     The year 1883 was a marked one. Several of the pioneer union schools were reorganized into denominational schools. Those at Oakdale and Neligh were subdivided, the Oakdale Union to the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal, the Neligh union to the Congregational and Methodist Episcopal. I organized three new schools in the northern part of the county. On June 29th, the Kemple, 4 teachers and 35 scholars. William Dunn, superintendent; August 12th, the Hammond, 3 teachers and 35 scholars, Samuel Skeen, superintendent; September 9th, the Simmons, 4 teachers and 40 scholars, William Armstrong, superintendent. September 16th, I visited a new school that had been organized at Council Hill, conducted by S. Kirk, having 3 teachers and 30 scholars. The year closed with 40 Sunday schools in the county; attendance (222) 180 teachers and 1,620 scholars; total, 1,800. The county Sunday school association was very alert to the general welfare of all the work and held a rousing convention in the fall.

     Seven new schools were added to the county's roll during the year 1884: The Highland, P. Ashleman, superintendent; Plainfield, N. M. Johnson, superintendent; Lawn Ridge, Frank Todd, superintendent. Those organized by C. H. Frady: March 39th, Grand Prairie, Joseph Ball, superintendent; April 6th, Little Daisy, John Curtis, superintendent; April 13th, Elgin, E. A. Shain, superintendent; May 25th, Rural, Frank Moore, superintendent. The enrollment of the above seven schools was 28 teachers and 295 scholars. Grand total of the attendance in the county, 2,113; number of Sunday schools in county, 47. The association's work in the county was very beneficial.

     The year 1885 was a very successful one, 18 new schools being organized throughout the county. Organized by others: La Beau, S. P. Baldridge, superintendent; Hoskins, Clayton Bibb, superintendent; West, Miss O. E. Rice, superintendent; Rayner, John Rayner, superintendent; Mitchell, U. P., Thomas Shaw, superintendent; Gloversville, Mrs. E. M. Libby, superintendent; Mentorville, Elias. Smith, superintendent; Bethel, George Lefever, superintendent.. Started by C. H. Frady: West Cedar Valley Congregational, J. F. Smith, superintendent; Royal No. 2, William M. Fannon, superintendent; California Valley, F. M. Housh, superintendent; Crawford Valley, Mrs. T. C. Lewis, superintendent; Glendale, H. S. Wetherby, superintendent; Pleasant Ridge, C. R. Kirk, superintendent; Maple Grove, Fletcher Scott, superintendent; Mount Olivet, Thomas Todd, superintendent; County Line, Frank Weaver, superintendent; Eureka, Charles Swanson superintendent. The attendance of the above eighteen schools was 73 teachers and 630 scholars, which raised the total enrollment of the county to 2,816 persons; number of schools in county, 65. The county Sunday school association was active in its work during the year. 

     (223) The year 1886 was one of gracious results. Earnest work was done in all the schools. Twelve more new schools were added to the county list, viz: Chicago, W. H. VanGilder, superintendent; Lakeside, J. R. Nichol, superintendent; Eden Valley, Frank Weaver, superintendent; Verdigris, Mrs. C. H. Jearison, superintendent; Pleasant Hill, E. F. Skinner, superintendent; Pleasant View, W. N. Sutton, superintendent; Oakdale, German Evangelical, Samuel Clingman, superintendent; Neligh Episcopal, Frances Earl, superintendent; Bunker Hill, T. M. Olin, superintendent; Warner, S. D. Taft, superintendent; Star, Calvin Pratt, superintendent; Little Pilgrim, Mrs. Emma Barrows, superintendent. The above schools had 46 teachers and 410 scholars, making the number of schools in the county 77 and the grand total attendance of 3,272. The county Sunday school association held its annual convention and did effective work along its line. This brings my present chapter to a close. It can easily be seen that the number of Sunday schools had increased in five and one-half years from sixteen up to seventy-seven, and from an attendance of 670 up to 3,272. Antelope County at the close of 1886 had a larger per cent of its population in Sunday schools than any other county in the state, and the second place of any county in the United States, Harrison County, Iowa, holding the record. I shall always have a fond recollection of the many faithful co-workers in the county, and will ever praise the Lord for His wonderful blessing on our mutual work.