YORK COUNTY NEBRASKA
OLD SETTLER'S HISTORY

     (74) I came to York County in the spring of 1871. That is, my parents brought me here. I was a kid in those days. and "Granny Biby, peace to her memory, said that with the exception of Dick Martin I was the meanest boy on the Blue River. Granny only said this, however, when she didn't want me to "cut her a stick of wood." At such times it was "Elmer, honey, won't you please cut old Granny a stick or two of wood'?" And the wood was always forthcoming, and Granny was always liberal in payment for the same. That in which she paid would not pass with everybody as coin of the realm, but it would with a (75) good many people, and it always did with me. It consisted of liberal twists of "long green terbacker," with an occasional "boughten" piece thrown in.

     The lumber with which my father built his little house on the homestead was hauled from Lincoln. I remember that the neighbors who lived in soddies and dug outs thought Dayton was putting on too much style with his new frame house. It was a poor affair, compared with the house there now, and with the other houses in York County that have sprung up out of the prairies, but it was home. And that word "home" in the early days meant all the world to hundreds and thousands of hard working, brave men and women who sat down for the first meal under their own sod and willow brush, and they said the word and it had its full meaning. There was no landlord to divide the profits. The roof was their own. And though it was not a very good one, and leaked somewhat, yet it was not long before they made a better one to replace it. No matter how fine the houses may be now, we must always remember the cosy old soddies and dugouts that cradled Nebraska's greatness as a farming and commercial state.

     We will always remember the free, cordial life of those days, gone now for an easier, if not a better. Every man's house was his neighbor's. What one lacked was easily and freely made up by another, and the bonds of universal brotherhood were never stronger any place on God's green earth than they were in York County in the good old homesteading days.

     A miracle was accomplished when these broad prairies were were peopled. The buffalo had hardly disappeared from sight, frightened at the white spread of the prairie schooner's sails, till his trail was turned under by the braking plow of advancing civilization. Unbroken solitude here today . Tomorrow you passed the same spot and a habitual home was nearly ready for its occupants. Almost before the claim was staked the school district was organized and the teacher employed, justices and peace officers were elected, and the civil law that governed it in the old homes in the east had scarcely time to draw a full breath until it, was in perfect operation in the new home. The church and the Sunday school came in with the movers' wagons in a (76) little box under the feed box at the rear end, and it was taken out and set up before, camp was pitched. With such men and women composing the nucleus around which was built the population of Nebraska she could not have been other than the great State she is. Her good name and her peaceful character will stand monuments to their enterprise and integrity until men shall move no more.

     McCool Junction was organized on the advent of the K. C. & O. R. R. in York County, March the 28th, 1888, it is situated on East Half of the S. E. ¼ 13-9-3 and the S. W. ¼ 18-9-2 and part of the N. E. ¼ 24-9-3 and is beautifully located on the banks of the West Blue river in the Blue River Valley and has one of the finest natural parks found in the state, and is a great resort for Class Day, School and Sunday School Picnics. The village formerly had a saloon, but by the effort of the good people of the place, greatly assisted by the Catholic Church, rid themselves of the saloon, and the village has been built up and improved till it is one of the nicest little towns in the county, full of enterprise, and surrounded as it is by a rich farming district, enjoys a good healthy business in all its lines of industry. The first village officers were: J. J. Gilmore, W. E. Butler, James Grier, H. Tolles and Thomas Henahan. Its present officers (1913) are: Frank Montgomery, Arthur Marshall, Lewis Walbrecht, Lloyd Hays, and Emmit Finney.

     The Village of Henderson is located on the N. E. ¼ Section 6-9-4 in Henderson Township, was incorporated October the 4th, 1899, soon after the F. E. & M. V. R. R. was built through the county, this road gave them direct communication with York and the east, and was a great convenience. The first Board of Village Trustees were: A. C. Neufeld, chairman; Peter Goosen, D. H. Tessman, D. J. Kroeker, J. P. Funk, and A. Franz secretary.

Mr. & Mrs. Dan George

     (77) The village was located in the midst of a thrifty German settlement, which by their economy, frugal living and industry has become the wealthiest settlement in the county, and the village and country surrounding has more fine automobiles, and indications of luxury than almost any other part of the county.

     Henderson is well supplied with stores, has a good bank and all the conveniences of a thrifty village.

     Henderson leas a good public school building and the Mennonites who constitute the principal part of the population have a large school of their own, and the only church building.

     Henderson had a saloon for several years, but it was a source of trouble and the good people of the place, in the spring of 1912 voted to get along without a saloon. In the spring of 1913 the friends of the saloon in some way secured enough votes to have the saloon again, but there seemed to be a legal question about reestablishing the saloon that could not be overcome and the saloon has never been reopened.

     The present board of Village Trustees are: J. J. Morse, chairman; J. C. WenzIaff, Johann Doell, D. D. Weins and A. M. Youst, with F. H. Tuschoff, secretary.

     Benedict was incorporated in 1890 with J. W. Downing as chairman and G. M. Douglass as clerk. The Board was: J. W. Downing, O. D. Keeler, Walter Scott, Robt. Cavender and Cris Sparling. Scott and Cavender, deceased, J. W. Downing in California and O. D. Keeler and Cris Sparling yet in Benedict. G. M. Douglas the clerk, holds down a good position in Columbus. The present Board is W. J. Degraw, chairman; P. F. Conant, B. J. Huff, F. C. Wirth and James Marvel, with M. L. Cavender as clerk. A. Schneider has the credit of serving 14 years on the Board and 8 years as chairman.

     (78) The first school taught in Benedict was by Frank Slagle; B. R. Brabham was director.

     In the winter of 1886-7, bonds were voted by Morton Township to aid the Kansas City & Omaha R. R., and in January 1887, there were slight evidences along the right of way on section 13, that a town was to be started there. A small grain office and scoophouse were the first, and for two months the only buildings. This village was named in honor of E. C. Benedict, president of the K. C. & O. R. R. John Lett and the firm of Oughton & Stillwell drove into town the same day and same hour; the one from the West and the other from the East. These men built houses at once for their business and also as residences for their families. Mr. Lett went into the Hotel business and Oughton & Stillwell opened the first grocery store. The Eckles building adjoining the hotel was put up at the same time, and used at once and for years after by the firm of Knott & Sparling, our first general Merchandise dealers. These were f ollowed by Miller & Downing, hardware; S. M. French, restaurant and confectionery; Baum the druggist. In the meantime Dr. J. A. Van Dyke located and at once picked up a large practice, and proved to be a fine physician. Mr. Levens erected a billard hall on the site of the present residence of F. M. Brabham. James Stoddard erected a building north of the livery barn of C. E. Anderson, and Barney Davis put up a second billiard hall. These buildings were afterward moved south onto Sherman street. Stoddard's building is now occupied by J. B. Marvel as a restaurant, and the other was owned and occupied for some years by J. B. Johnson, but is now fallen into decay and will soon be torn away to make room for a better building.

     Frank McConaughey opened the first bank with B. B. Crownover as cashier. The place now contains two banks, the First National and the Farmer's State Bank. Martin &, Crownover were the first firm enraged in shipping livestock. Martin (Lee) died on his farm one mile south of Benedict, May 17th, 1893. Mr. Crownover (Elmer B.) resides at present upon a farm which he has just sold to H. A. Johnson for $204 per acres -- this lies adjoining the village on the west, and was formerly the home of Henry Harrington. (79)On Sunday, June 27th, 1887, the first train, a construction train, pulled into our little village; there was a large concourse of people from the surrounding country to see it, and great was the rejoicing that now we could go to York without driving a team. The townsite had been taken off the farms of E. B. Crownover and Henry Harrington -- sixty acres from each. Geo. Kinyon erected a blacksmith shop and a residence; Joe Downer a residence, and S. P. Stryker, a small hardware store in which he lived until able to put up a residence on the block now owned by H. W. Hoffmaster, Sr. Here the first child born in Benedict first saw the light. Miss Alta Stryker, now a lady of some 26 summers. The Doctor built him a cosy home where at present the M. E. parsonage stands. C. H. Dovenbarger erected a livery barn on the southwest corner of the block on which Dr. Karrer is building a fine residence. Later, Fairman & Harrington opened a general store on the west side of the R. R., east of the present residence of O. B. Canfield. In August R. B. Brabham came to town from his farm, and took upon himself the duties of Post Master, which office he held during the remainder of Pres. Cleveland's first term, and was followed by John Lett, who in turn gave way to Mr. Brabham again, when in 1892. Mr. Cleveland defeated Harrison for a second term. In 1896, however, the scales turned again, and John Lett was returned to power. He is yet Post Master and, if he can stand the Civil Service examination, is likely to serve for many years.

     In the fall of 1587, John Lett was elected Justice of the Peace and served for six years or to January; 1894, when J. E. Hoover succeeded him and has held the office ever since and Woe unto the man who falls into his clutches if proven guilty of any serious misdemeanor.

     Benedict owns the Electric Lighting and Water plant, thus making a little money on the side for the village. Our plant is acknowledged to be among the best to be found outside of the larger cities of the state.

     We have three Fraternal Lodges The Modern Woodmen, A. O. U. W., and Degree of Honor. These orders, in 1907, with the help of some public spirited citizens, erected (80) a fine Fraternal building on the main street of the town, and all are justly proud of their Fraternal Hall, which cost $3,000, and was begun without a dollar in the treasury. There remains less than $500 of debt against the property.

     The Presbyterian Congregation had, in 1884, built a church near the cemetery two miles west of the town, this building and the Parsonage was moved in, the summer of 1889, and the Lutheran people erected their church the same year. Rev. B. F. Sharp of York was the first Presbyterian Pastor, and Rev. Schneur was the first Lutheran Pastor. The Methodist people built some years later with the Rev. D. M. Buckner as their first Pastor.

     Mr. Vandeveer built a large grain elevator, Mr. Stryker also went into this business and A. L. Sprague built a fine elevator north of the depot -- these three grain firms went out of business and James & Bro. purchased the Vanderveer plant which is yet in operation under the management of the Hastings Grain Company, N. G. Ensey, manager. The other Elevators were taken down and removed to points in Kansas. The farmers some ten years ago, met and organized the Farmer's Grain Association, erecting a large elevator, which has done a good business every year, paying a better price for grain than any of the surrounding towns have been paying, and, also, paying an 8 per cent dividend each year. The elevator has been under the management of A. J. Houston nearly ever since it was completed. R. E Conahaughy put in a lumber yard here in 1888, which passed into the hands of the Rogers Lumber Co., which was bought out by the new Benedict Lumber &, Fuel Association, another organization formed by the Farmers. This has proven to be a great success financially. In 1907, on the 15th of April the six buildings on the south half of the block 22, on Sherman street were destroyed by fire. A very heavy wind was blowing from the North West and it was with the greatest difficulty that the S. E. quarter of the town was saved. The Post Office and Miss Lett's Queensware stock, the barber shop, drug store, R. B. Brabham's building and stock and the building and hardware stock of C. H. Dovenbarger were destroyed with some salvage on the stocks. Mr. Dovenbarger built a fine brick store building on his lot, and (81) S. J. Parker built a brick building on the site of the barber shop, which is the home of the Village Club.

     Lushton is situated on Section 25 in Henderson Township, was surveyed and platted in the spring of 1887. The first board of village trustees was: A. Holmes, chairman; M. W. Strater, A. Cookus, M. D. Calkins, F. C. Williams, with Ed. Allison Clerk and Homer Hager Treasurer. The K. C. & O. R. R. was completed through the county the same year. The first general store building was built in the spring of 1887 by the Dorsey Bros. They stocked up, and operated the store for one year then sold to Dailey & Farber who carried on the business for 10 years, Mr. Bailey moved to University Place and Mr. Farber died. During the summer of 1887 Mr. Albert Holmes built a general store building, stocked it, and has carried on a mercantile business, and kept the post office in connection with it for 26 years. Mr. Holmes has always been identified with the interests, and prosperity of the village, and is really a part of it. Henry Grosshans of Sutton, and Philip Schwab built Suttons first elevator in the spring of 1888, the first load of grain was delivered in Lushton in the fall of 1887 and shovelled in a car, our genial friend, Mr. M. B. Thompson helped shovel the grain; the farmers at that time were very much elated over having a grain market right at their door instead of hauling the long distance they had been accustomed to. During the latter part of 1887, J. J. Burras of Lincoln and C. N. Kincade of Lincoln organized the first lumber company and stocked up October 1st of the same year. The yard was purchased by Mr. M. B. Thompson and successfully operated by him for a number of years. Mr. P. H. Purcell built and operated the first hardware store; and Mr. Edwin Moore the first drug store. William Cookus put in the first blacksmith shop and at this date, June 1913 will pound iron in any shape you ask for. Mr. William Walters built and operated the first hotel, a two story frame building on the east side of the main street. The first bank, "The State Bank of Lushton" was organized in the spring of 1888 by George and Tom Clawson, and Mrs. Susan Dailey represented the (82) ladies in the first millinery store, and sold millinery for a number of years. Will R. Vanderburg built and operated the first elevator in 1888, and the first church that graced the village of Lushton was moved in and rebuilt by the United Bretheren church.

     Lushton is a village of about 200 population in the midst of a thriving farming district, now has 2 elevators, 1 harness shop, 2 cream stations, 1 hardware store, 2 general merchandise stores, 1 drug store, M. W. A. Hall, blacksmith shop, furniture and undertaking establishment, bank, hotel, meat market, confectionery, lumber yard, 2 churches, and an up-to-date school building. The Town has always done a good business, had a saloon one year but soon tired of it and ,joined the Prohibition ranks.

     The present Village Trustees are: A. Holmes, chairman; J. L. Labart, V. A. Sickler, Fred Franz, J. L. Ashmore with K. Anderson Clerk and Treasurer.

     In the fall of 1880 when the B. & M. R. R. was extended from York to Grand Island the town of Bradshaw was established. The town was first located on Mr. W. F. Morrison's farm a little east of where it now is, but was soon moved from there and located on the land owned by Messrs. O. R. and J. M. Richards.

     Mr. W. D. Post opened up the first general store in Bradshaw in the fall of 1889, in the building now occupied by Mr. Yoder. The postoffice was then moved from Plainfield to his store and he became Bradshaw's first postmaster. Mr. Post also acted as depot agent and telegraph operator, besides running a drug store and elevator and handling live stock. As a competitor in the grain business he had our then worthy citizen, Mr. O. R. Richards, who begin buying grain the same time. To Mr. A. Linsley, now deceased, belongs the distinction of being the oldest resident; of Bradshaw. He opened up a blacksmith shop, as soon as the town was located, near where the hotel now stands. About the same time Messers. LeCount and Knapp opened (83) the first hardware store. In the spring of 1881 Mr. O. A. Stubbs opened the second general store and became one of Bradshaw's business men. As a resident physician, Dr. A. R. Allen came first in the spring of 1882 and is thus one of Bradshaw's oldest residents. Thus the business, enterprises began to increase and develop until at the present time we have an array of business firms of which we can well feel proud. 

     The village of Bradshaw has had a sad as well as eventful history, which placed her for a time in the long list of the ruined cities of the world. In the evening of the third day of June 1890, the residents of this little village and the surrounding country stood in helpless suspense and watched two peculiar storm clouds approaching, one moving from the northwest to the southeast, and one moving from the southwest to the northeast. The clouds met near the edge of Bradshaw and before the citizens could seek a place of safety the cyclone was upon them. Not a house in the village but was damaged and most of them were entirely demolished. Business houses were ruined and many of them were swept away entirely. The flood of rain and the intense darkness that followed made the situation most pitiful. Some of the residents were buried beneath the debris and many of than were injured -- some fatally. As soon as possible the news was sent to York and right royally did the residents of that city respond with every possible assistance.

     It will never be a credit to the pluck and energy of our citizens, some of whom lost every dollar of their property, that in the face of the most appalling disaster and discouragements they arose with faith and determination, and over the ruins of the past they rebuilt their homes, and re-established their business. A stranger would never suspect now that this pleasant little village with its beautiful homes was ever in such utter ruin.

     The maiden name of Mrs. J. M. Richards was Mary Bradshaw and from her our village received its name.

     The first Board of Trustees were: David Hitchcock, president; Harry Belcher, clerk; J. H. Currie, treasurer;  (84) A. Linsley, R. C. Buckley, H. M. Richmond, and Henry Koch trustees.

     The present (1913) board of trustees are: J. H. Currie, chairman; C. B. Palmer, Jr., clerk; E. C. Roggy, I. H. Johnson, C. W. Gardiner and C. H. Bedient, trustees.

     Doctor Babcock built the first Methodist church in Bradshaw in 1882 and the name of the circuit was changed from York circuit to Bradshaw circuit. Rev. H. F. Tyler was appointed to this circuit in 1882 and moved the class from Eberhart to Harmony church. Then from 1883 to 1886 came Rev. A. J. Marsh. He moved the class from Harmony church to Bradshaw and built the main part of the present parsonage. Following him came A. J. Whitmore for one year. From 1887 to 1889 Rev. L. C. Lemon preached at Bradshaw and attended the Methodist college at York. From 1889 to 1890 Rev. W. H. Prescott labored on this charge, building an addition to the parsonage and rebuilding the church as it now stands after the destructive cyclone of June 3rd 1890.

     The following pastors have since served on the Bradshaw work: Rev. C. S. Kathan 1890-1891; Rev. L. Morrison 1891-1892; Rev. L. Ingham 1892-1893; Rev. C. L. Hamilton 1893-1895; Rev. F. Deal 1895-1896; Rev. J. A. Chapin 18961897; Rev. W. K. Williams 1897-1898; Rev. H. G. Claycomb 1898-1901; Rev. M. A. Wimberley 1901--

     The Christians in the vicinity of Bradshaw were organized May 15th, 1875, the congregation meeting for worship consisting of seven members: Benjamin Mapes and wife, Christopher Owings and wife, Margaret Higgs, Wm. Mapes, Mary C. Hasbrouck, with Elder Noah Brotherton of Hamilton county, presiding. In the fall of the same year Sarah Hasbrouck and William F. Morrison were added.

     (85) In the winter of 1879 E. Evans held a meeting in the Plainfield school house just north of Bradshaw on the Owing's farm and organized a Sunday school, five additions were the fruit of that meeting. In the spring T. A. Parkinson was hired as pastor. In 1881 they moved their place of worship to Bradshaw, where nine were added by letter.

     The church of Christ at Bradshaw was organized May 18, 1884, with twenty-eight members, Elder Wohlgamuth presiding. In the spring of 1885 they commenced to build the church house that was blown down at the time of the cyclone in 1890. Of that congregation three are here, some are deceased, most of them went west to find homes. In the fall of 1885 Wm. Eckerman field a revival, the fruit of that meeting was thirteen added, of that number five are still in the church. The evangelists who have held meetings since that time are: R. C. Barrows, D. A. Youtzy, J. S. Beem, A. W. Henry, A. W. Harney, N. B. Alley, A. D. Finde. The pastors who have labored for the church are C. W. Henry, A. W. Harney, E. C. Whitaker, H. E. Motter. The student. preachers are: H. J. Kennedy, Earl Boyd, F. W. Henry.

     In the latter part of 1879 Rev. Wm. Woolman of Hastings held services in the small school house a little northeast of what is now Bradshaw, then called Plainfield. Some time in February of 1880 a proposition was submitted to the Christians of the place to organize a Congregational church. The following named persons consented to enter the orgarization: Dr. S. V. Moore, L. A. Moore, H. E. Simons, A. P. Simmons, L. N. Buell, Mary Buell and H. E. Linsley. A council was called at the home of L. N. Buell March 19, 1880 and was composed of pastor and delegates from the Arborville, Grafton, Seely, York and Council churches and H. N. Gates, superintendent of missions for Nebraska. Rev. C. S. Harrison of York was chosen moderator and Rev. W. S. Hampton, clerk. This council recommended that we be organized as the Congregational church of Bradshaw. The church was incorporated May 1, 1880, with Rev. Wm. Woolman pastor. The corner stone of the (86) church was laid Oct. 22, 1880, and the building dedicated free of debt June 2, 1882, and cost about $1,500.

     The following ministers have served this church: Revs. Dyas, Winslow, Benton, Geer, Baker and Otis. The evening of June 3, 1890, the building was made a total wreck by the cyclone.

     The first public school in the western half of York county was held in a little dug-out over on Lincoln creek in 1872, with Mrs. A. Linsley as teacher. The district was eight by twelve miles in extent and known as district No. 15. As the country was settled up the district was divided and other little soddies were built. Then a "frame school" was started in Owens Bros. old store building, which stood on Mr. Steinberg's farm. In 1881 the first little school house was built in Bradshaw. To this additions were made from time to time as needed. But this, the toil and savings of many years, like the most of Bradshaw was laid in ruins in one brief lour. After the cyclone, as the district was already bonded to the limit, fifteen hundred dollars of the "cyclone fund" was used for a new building. To this was added five hundred dollars from the public schools of York county and five hundred dollars from the county board.

     Bradshaw has graduated two of her principals into the office of county superintendent, Mr. E. S. Franklin in 1887 and E. C. Bishop in 1800.

     The following teachers have served as principals of the Bradshaw schools since 1881. Misses Sylvia Butler and Carrie Moffitt. Messrs. Geo. Greer, A. B. Codding, E. S. Franklin, Chas. Harlan, Wm. Bartz, H. B. McDermed, W. T. Oats, Fred Archard, W. S. Wright, W. T. Utterbeck, T. A. Gierins, J. H. Frew, E. C. Bishop, R. F. Marquis and J. N. Peek.

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