Stone Family Story 

Harvard, Nebraska

In 1871 the sight of Harvard was - preempted - by E. W. Brass, E. J. Stone (Grandfather of Leroy and Luella,) Bartholomew Moger and G. W. Van Gilder and patented to them in Sept. of that year. A formal transfer of this title to the South Platte Town Company was made shortly after, and the location surveyed. In view of the surveyors were the statuary home of the preemptors built more to comply with the too easy conditions of the rules of preemptions than to shelter the preemptors.

A Post office was established in December 1871 and E. J. Stone was appointed to the position of postmaster. Upon its first establishment the office was kept in a store room erected by M. Estes, which was also occupied by G. K. Morrill with a stock of drugs. The office was somewhat migratory and the location depended largely upon the whereabouts of the post master, as he was accustomed to carrying the mail in his plug hat. Previous to its establishment, the settlers usually obtained their mail at Grand Island, at a distance of thirty miles. Stone held the position of postmaster until June 1872.

In 1872 the “Harvard House” was opened by Dimic and Stone. It was the first hotel for Harvard.

The first school was opened in the year 1872-73. Cost of the building was $5,000. The first trustees consisted of three men. In 1881 three more were added of which E. J. Stone was one.

The camp “Sons of Veterans” was organized here and was mustered in in July 1889 by James Donnelly with 23 members. Julius Stone (father of Leroy and Luella and son of E. J.) was appointed or elected First Lieutenant.

Following 1872, E. J. Stone proved up on the Stone Homestead, 3 ½ miles southeast of Harvard and lived their till 1905 when Julius' wife, Cora and family moved there and lived until 1920.

Julius Stone was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was still one of the time of his death, December 1904.

Copied from “Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nebraska” Printed 1890

Contributed by:  Holly Yankovich