Cherry County, NE History

(170) Cherry County numbers among its citizens, two men of national reputation. They are, former Nebraska Governor, Sam R. McKelvie, and James C. Quigley, Democratic National Committeeman from Nebraska.

Sam R. McKelvie was a member of the Farm Board under President Herbert Hoover. He is also the publisher of the Nebraska Farmer, and operates a ranch twenty miles south of Valentine, where he produces pureblood Hereford cattle. He and Mrs. McKelvie enjoy ranch life and spend much of their time at their ranch home. Mr. McKelvie is a popular speaker and takes an active interest in public affairs.

Mr. James C. Quigley, prominent attorney of Valentine, is also active in political affairs of the state and nation.

Both Mr. Quigley and Mr. McKelvie are sons of pioneer Nebraskans. Mr. Quigley's father was a cowboy during the open range days and was a pioneer ranchman. Mr. McKelvie's father was a prominent farmer in Clay County.

Five Cherry County citizens have been elected as Master Farmers. They were: J. C. Carson of Irwin, P. H. Young of Simeon, Robert S. Lee of Brownlee, Sam Hudson of Simeon, and Mrs. Essie Davis of Hyannis. At the time this history is being written, all of the foregoing are living with the exception of J. C. Carson, who passed away a number of years ago.

The trying years of the nineties, with the drouth, panic, and depression acted as a citizenship sifter. Only those with courage and determination remained to greet the dawn of better days which came with the turn of the century. Those who became discouraged gave way before the trying times and sold their holdings and left the country. The pioneers who remained, their sons, daughters, and grandchildren, make up a substantial number of the residents of this county at the present time. To this group of residents, have been added men and women of business ability who have been attracted to the county by promising business conditions. This combination makes up a citizenship of integrity, character, and ability and will compare favorably with any county in our nation.

Farm and ranch homes are seldom locked when the owners go away to town or to a neighbors to spend a day or evening. For many years before the coming of automobiles, freight wagns were left loaded with supplies standing in the streets over night of our towns and villages, in front of the (171) livery barn, with only a tarpaulin for covering. The writer of this history left his loaded wagon in the street over night for many years when hauling supplies to the ranch, and never missed an article.

Another monument to the character of the citizens of this county is the fact that as soon as the necessary number of settlers located in a neighborhood, arrangements were made for a public school and in almost every locality, a Sunday School was also organized. Many communities built rural churches. In the German Settlement, a community church was built in 1887, and this church has the distinction of holding regular services for its people from that time until the present day. This church is of the Lutheran denomination.

The coming of automobiles and better roads worked to the disadvantage of rural Sunday Schools and churches.

Citizens of the county are very interested in the education of their children. There is a very small percentage of the students finishing the eighth grade who do not attend high school, and there are a great many University, Business College, and Normal School graduates among the younger people of the county.

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