YORK COUNTY NEBRASKA
OLD SETTLER'S HISTORY

     (72) First permanent settler -- John Anderson in 1865, on 2-9-1, West Blue Township.

     First frame buildings, at Porcupine Ranch, on 17-10-4, in 1863, in Brown Township.

     First death occurred at Jack Smith's Stage Station, killed by lightening.

     Second Sam Tate was shot by Smith in self defense in 1865, grave can be seen on brow of hill, Sec. 15-10-2, 4 miles southeast of York.

     First white child born in the county -- Lillie M. Gilmore, June 3rd, 1866, she is now Mrs. J. E. Hunt of Bayard, Nebraska.

     First wedding in York County, Mr. N. J. Dixon and Miss Lydia A. Gilmore, married at E. Gilmore's Febr. 27, 1867, by Squire Millspaw.

     Second couple married, our own Mr. and Mrs. Ed Copsey, Oct. 27, 1867.

     First School District organized in West Blue Twpt. in 1869. was organized by Hon. G. B. France School Supt. of Seward County. (York Co. was part of Seward Co. at that date for judicial purposes).

     First school house, built in said Dist. in 7-9-1 in 1869, N. A. Dean helped haul logs to saw mill in Seward Co. to get lumber for helping build the house.

     First school taught in 1868 by Mrs. Nan Schaffee in Ed Copsey's house in Henderson Twp.

     First Fourth of July celebration was held around the unfinished school House, West Blue Twp. in 1869, Rev Mr. Caldwell was orator of the day.

Mrs. Lillie Gilmore Hunt

     (73) First Post Office established on S. W.¼ 8-9-2, 1867, Fernando McFadden P. M.

     First sermon preached 1868 at David Henderson's in Henderson Twp. Rev. Davis, a Baptist minister, held the service.

     First  baptism, Andrew Houston, fall of 1871, by Rev. W. E. Morgan, at Brahmsteads & Kleinschmidt's unfinished store room, in York; J. H. Bell held the bowl of water.

     First  County Fair held in York 1873, N. W. Graves, President.

     First Newspaper "The York Monitor" June 6, 1872, E. H. White Editor and proprietor, a copy framed, can be seen at the York Republican Office.

     First case tried in the Dist. Court, Febr. 7th, 1872, a divorce case, before Judge Lake. Edward Bates Atty. for plaintiff, divorce granted.

     First white child born in old York Precinct, Mrs. Alexander Stephens, at the Jack Stone Ranch, June 15th, 1867.

     First school taught in York by A. C. Montgomery in a claim shack just south of the public square on Lincoln Ave., 1870.

     First school house built in York 1871, John Shaw and J. P. Miller were the contractors and builders.

     First church was built in York by the Presbyterians, spring of 1873.

     First couple married in York. Mr. William Heideman and Miss Caroline Reets, married by Judge D. T. Moore, Aug. 9, 1870, Mrs. Sarah N. Moore and Mrs. Cap. Reed were Witnesses.

     First  physician located in York, Dr. Thomas Meyers, 1871.

     First store opened by Elwood Bros. in 1870, succeeded in a few months by F. O. and J. H. Bell.

     First bank established by Wm. McWhirter 1875, capital supposed to be $1500.00. Rules for buying good notes (74) 50c on the dollar, and paid 45e. on the dollar for county warrants, and made loans at 5 per cent per month.

     First Railway train reached York August 1877.

     First Sunday School organized at D. T. Moore's residence on 18-10-2 in 1870, Mr. Moore was elected Supt.

     First Board of County Commissioners, Servetus V. Moore, L. F. Wyman and David Buzzard.

     First County Treasurer, Julius W. Frost; First County Clerk, Edward Bates; First Sheriff, George Flock; First County Judge, D. T. Moore; First County Supt. W. H. Armstrong; First County Surveyor, Frank Manning; First Coroner, R. Fairbanks.

     First suit in York County was to recover a yoke of oxen, one with bush of his tail off, costs in case $1.75.

     First Guardian Sarah Parker for Francis R. Stillwell, June 1, 1870.

     First Christmas gathering at Randall Fairbanks in Henderson Twp., 1867, the gathering was composed of the Waddles, Georges, Copseys, Wescots, Hendersons, Barses and Chaffees. The weather was so warm the children went barefooted, and Mr. Fairbanks took off his front door to enlarge his table.

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