Returning to the early history, we find that Gage County was organized with Beatrice as the county seat in July, 1857, twenty-five years ago, but nine-tenths of its wonderful progress has been made within the last ten years.

The first election took place the 16th of July, at which time Albert Towle (pronounced Toll), who was afterward Postmaster at Beatrice for nearly twenty years, and Dr. H. M. Reynolds, were elected the first County Commissioners. O. B. Hewette was elected County Judge and P. M. Favor, Sheriff.

The two years following were the most peaceful and pious years in the county's history; No one's rights were disturbed and justice visited all alike, for, at that time, the Judge did not have to sit in court to balance the scales of right, at which "his honor" was not offended, and the Sheriff made no arrests, and for once that unpleasant office was enjoyed.

I. P. Mumford, the first Treasurer, served the two years without the pleasure and profit of handling funds, as he did not collect a cent, and consequently, did not pay a warrant.

 Lawrence Johnston, after serving two years for 50 cents in fees, was caused by a disappointed or restless ambition to resign and retire from public service whose compensation would furnish only one good meal in two years.

He was succeeded by Nathan Blakeley, whose appetite relished "honor." The early records are quite as scarce now as official business was then, and it is difficult to discover there from the names of those who held the position of trust and "honor."

The first Gage County Commissioners' meeting was held March 13, 1858, at which time an election was ordered to vote on the question of relocating the county seat, which at that early day had found an aspiring and daring rival in Blue Springs, and also to elect a County Treasurer, Superintendent of Schools and County Clerk. An injunction, it is said, was obtained from court, and a vote on the relocation prevented. It is but fair to add that at that time Blue Springs had a better right to that title than Beatrice, as it was then the geographical center of the county, but that position, since the addition of two townships on the north, is now occupied by Beatrice.

On what ground, therefore, the injunction was obtained we have not been able to discover. At the time of holding the first election, the population of the county was thirty-three men and one woman, and each can-did ate received just thirty-three votes.

There is a little doubt in the minds of some, who was the first settler; but the majority concede that honor to David Palmer, before mentioned, who was drowned the '27th of June, 1870. The first furrow plowed was turned by John Pethoud, Sr.

But there is no doubt as to who was the first lady in the county, the honor of which belongs to Mrs. J. P. Mumford.  Her advent was the occasion and result of an exciting episode, which was no doubt as pleasant and gratifying to her at that time as it is interesting now to the citizens of the county.  Mr. Mumford, his wife and two men had crossed the Missouri, and, steering westward in search of a suitable location, entered Gage County and were seen by one of the Beatrice settlers, who was not long in conveying the intelligence to the camp that there was actually a woman in the county.  This discovery acted like the rising sun upon a landscape.

The flood of pleasant memories came like the streaming rays of glorious sunshine that drives the mists of night from the hills, and drove from their faces the somber shadows of separation.

They remembered their mothers, wives and sisters far away. The desponding lover remembered her whom he had promised to return for and claim as his bride as soon as he should have been satisfied that the dusky red man would not come to kill or frighten her in his absence.

As one said afterward, a "transformation scene took place as if by magic in their countenances."

Joyful excitement ensued, the news passed around from lip to lip with accents that betrayed the deep respect and admiration these hardy pioneers had for that benign being— woman. The camp turned out on masse to see her, and in­duce her and her husband to favor them with their presence.

Their art of persuasion or diplomacy was sufficient to accomplish their design, and she was tendered a right royal reception. And we doubt not that many wore envious about that time, and wished that their mother, wife, sister or "sweetheart" had been in Mrs. Mumford's place.  Mr. Mumford at once became the most popular man in the community. Luck always attends a man who takes a wife into a new country, and in this instance no doubt Mr. Mumford had the honor of being the first County Treasurer thrust upon him on that account.   But his reward consisted simply in honors, as he served two years without collecting a cent of revenue, for which he also received no pay.  But she brought more than office to him, for the firm of Mr. and Mrs. Mumford made more money than any other firm in the place.  They kept the first boarding-house started in the county, which she opened for the reception and accommodation of the members of the town company, who made the hotel business a very profitable one during that first summer.  The location of this boarding house was on the ground now occupied by the brick yard, near the mouth of Indian Creek.

The hotels of Beatrice today, and they are numerous, have a greater abundance and variety doubtless, but the bachelor pioneers hailed this new departure and perhaps enjoyed their first meals there more than they could the best table in the Kandall House.

About the next woman to arrive was Mrs. Towle, wife of Albert Towle, and, although not the first white woman in the county, she undoubtedly helped to verify the saying about "luck," for Mr. Towle at once became a prominent member of the community and was appointed to the position of Postmaster, in 1860, which he held until his death, in March, 1871.

On the 4th of July, 1857, the first celebration of that memorable day in Gage County occurred. Fired with enthusiasm over their early prosperity and prospect in this fair country and in a land of freedom, they prepared to celebrate in earnest.

 In answer to a generous invitation to their neighbors to join them, a number of people came from Nebraska City, including Judge Kinney and his daughter, Beatrice. This added greatly to the interest of the occasion, for the women were conspicuous for their scarcity, and then the young lady whom they had honored with an honor so lasting and sincere coming to express her gratitude, made it an occasion of unusual interest.

 Celebrations hereafter may be great and grand in their dimensions, display and noise, but none will ever be more sincere, more beautiful and touching than this one.  At this time that grand and beloved emblem of our country, the stars and stripes, the flag of the free, was presented to the brave pioneer town company, and Miss Beatrice Kinney had the honor of making the presentation speech and presenting the flag.   

The occasion was an impressive and appropriate one, exact and appropriate in time and appointment

The town WAS new and had taken but one step in its long and glorious career of usefulness.

The mission of life of the maiden whose name it bore lay before her scarcely commenced. Thus the trials and triumphs of each were still in the future. Her presentation speech and the response by Bennet Pike wore both appropriate and eloquent.

It is said that Mr. Pike owes his success in responding so happily to Miss Beatrice to some of the boys, his good friends, who, finding that he had imbibed too freely, took him in charge, and, one on each side, walked him up and down the Blue for several hours in the morning before this, the great event of the day, took place, in order to get him sufficiently sober to perform the duty assigned to him.  The " boys " declare they walked in this manner about fourteen miles. At any rate, he became himself again, and proved sufficient for the occasion.

 The historian should be faithful to his trust, and on this ground the liberty is taken with Mr. Pike's name. He long ago became a distinguished Judge in the State of Missouri, highly honored and respected by all.

The lady must surely be proud of her namesake today, which has grown to be one of the most prosperous and lovely cities of this great State.

It was during this first summer that "Pap's cabin's was built.  It soon became noted as a wayside inn through­out Southern Nebraska, for the genial hospitality of its occupants. The place and the family early won a place in the hearts of the people that never grew cold, but rather grew warmer with the coming years. Its head was one of those large-hearted, kindly disposed men that leave the world better for their short stay in it, and the people of Beatrice today speak the name, “Pap" Towle, with reverence, as though they remembered him as a relative, and, indeed, as a generous true friend.

He lived to see the place he had helped to establish and adorn one of the loveliest villages of this great state.  He departed a useful, pleasant and successful life, in March, 1879, after a residence here of about twenty-two years.  When he came here he had a love for the fatal bowl, like too many of those generous natures, and it is a wonder that it did not ruin him.  But he had a firm resolution, and shortly after settling here, conquered that appetite and lived ever after a consistent Christian life.

In honor of him and his noble wife, we quote a current saying: "They reared a family of five daughters, that, for beauty, ability and goodness, are not surpassed in Nebraska,"   They, too, have proven useful and ornamental to the society they helped to create.

That "cabin" stood as a relic of those early days until 1879.  It stood about fifteen rods southeast of where the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad depot is now located.

Mrs. Towle is still an honored resident of the place.

During the winter of 1857-58, but few people remained in Beatrice and vicinity.  The few who did remain sup­posed they had an ample supply of previsions to last them through to a season of the year when a trip to Nebraska City or Brownville, for supplies, would be attended with less danger, but even before the holidays their larder be­came very low, and they found it necessary to dispatch a team for supplies.

G. T. Loomis volunteered to make the attempt, and, taking Mr. Towle's team, was directed to cross over into Missouri to make his purchases, in order to make the most of a small amount of funds he had at his command.

After crossing the Missouri River, the weather turned suddenly cold, and it was nearly a month before he was able to return.  In the meantime, the supplies on hand became nearly exhausted, and the villagers were in very straitened circumstances.    

The following incident will illustrate the severe extremities to which the occupants of "Pap's Cabin" were forced.

It seems that Mr. Towle and his family occupied the east end of the "cabin" and J. B. Weston, Bonnet Pike, Dr. H. M. Reynolds and Oliver Townsend the west end.   These four bachelors had organized a joint-stock company, out of whose funds the necessaries of life were purchased. They took turns, week about, cooking and doing general housework, and it chanced to be Bennet Pike's turn to cook on a Sunday morning when there was nothing to cook.  He lay in bed quite late, his comrades urging him to get breakfast, and he declaring in most emphatic terms that it could not be done in the absence of anything to cook. And it was discouraging to him to think of having to appease four sharpened appetites with a crust of bread.

Their conversation being overheard by the occupants of the east end, the heads of that family held consultation in regard to dividing with the "boys," and it was decided to give them one of the two small pieces of dried beef in their possession.

Mr. Towle took  the beef off of  a nail in the garret and passed over the floor to a point directly over the bed occupied by the inmates below, and, finding a hole large enough for the purpose, dropped it on Mr. Pike's breast, who ex­claimed: '"Thank God, the ravens are dropping us food."

Thus supplied and encouraged, he soon prepared a bountiful repast, smoking hot, on the table.  Many similar hard ships and privations were endured by these early pioneers, which were not then enjoyed, but are now related as pleasures; by the participants.

The "camp" frequently got out of meat, and a good story is told of J. B. Weston and Bennet Pike in regard to their endeavor to procure this necessary article of food.

These two Nimrods went coon hunting one day, and ran about thrusting their heads into the hollows of trees and logs to "see if the coon was there."

The nature of the animal was discovered before an opportunity occurred for them to catch one, or they might have gone home that night silently conveying a truth spoken in Esop's Fables, "experience teaches," etc.

History of Nebraska 1882