The town of Hordville was settled in
1907. Sam Biggs, depot agent, is the oldest resident of the town and is the only
one who is still running the same business. The land where the town was laid out
was owned by the Swedish Lutheran Church, thirty acres, John Litzenberg,
twenty acres, and John Larson, twenty acres. The town was laid out by the
Townside Company of Stromsburg, in which Wilson Brothers and McCune of
Stromsburg were the leading spirits.
The town of Hordville was named for T.
B. Hord, and the first building in the town was built by Chester Levick. The
next few houses were built by A. Churchhill, C. V. Nelson, Mrs. Liza Lindahl and
Mrs. Emma Bengston. The first store was started by Cyrus Ramey,
who ran it for about four years, when he sold it to David Olson. Mr. Ramey went
to Montana,
and Mr. Olson later sold the store to John Osbloom. At present it is used as a
store room by Miles Duffey.
The next general stores were
opened by Axel Johnson, dry good store, and Mr. Mitchell and W. L. Cohagan,
groceries and hardware. Mr. Johnson sold out to O. A. Brantin and went to
Spalding, later F. L. Mitchell sold his interest to Edward Jensen. Cohagan
Jensen ran this place two years, selling to Hohn Brothers, who in turn sold to
the Farmers Unions. The postmasters have been Mr. Constock, C. T. Hill, Huldah
Anderson, Cecil Smersh, and the present postmistress, Mrs. Mae Slater.
The first lumber yard was put
in by the George Hoagland Lumber Company and continued for about ten years, then
sold to the Hordville Lumber Company with Aaron Bloomquist present
manager.
The first elevator was built by
T. B. Hord, and Lexington Elevator Milling Company, who sold to the Farmers
Grain and Live Stock Company during the first year, and are still running
it. T. B. Hord still owns his elevator.
T. O. Larson ran the first
blacksmith shop for about three years then sold it to Morris Benson and J.
Refshauge. They sold in about a year's time to the present owner, John
Vierberg.
The first hotel was run by T.
L. Wallin, who combined it with a grocery store. This is run by Leonard Wallin
and J. O. Wade at the present time.
J. Carlson started the first
harness shop. After it burned Frank Linwall ran one until he moved to North
Platte.
The Greive Implement stock was
the first one in town. It has changed several times and at present is conducted
by the The Farmers Union.
Mr. Jenning started the first
meat market, and sold it to T. L. Wallin.
V. McFarlan ran the first drug
store two years, Mr. Brown one year, Cecil Smersh three years, Mr. Slater being
the present owner.
The first cream station was run
by Miles Duffey. A. D. Bush ran the first livery barn for a long
time.
The first garage was started by
F. L. Mitchel, who ran it for one year, sold to Reuben Larson, who ran it about
six months until his death, then his brother Ira took it over and is still
conducting business.
The Hamilton County Telephone
Company furnished the first service to this community. The Public Service
Company of Aurora furnished the electric light for this
village.
Among the first churches in
Hordville were the Swedish Lutheran and the Methodist. The Lutheran congregation
bought forty acres of land of the railroad company and built their first church
in 1882, then in 1908 built a fine new church under the pastorate of Rev.
Gibson, who later died in Iowa. The present pastor of this congregation
is Rev. L. G. Dadnay.
The Methodist church since 1907
has had as its pastors Rev. M. Smith, Rev. Mr. Litrel, I. J. Hopkins and Rev.
Roland Martin.
The first bank in Hordville was
The First State Bank, organized by Wilson and McCune of Stomsburg and sold to W.
I. Farley and W. A. Hickman.
The town was incorporated in
1916, and the first town officers were: O. A. Bunting, P. J. Refshauge, Aaron
Blomquist, W. L. Cohagen, clerk; H. G. Carpenter, police; H. M. Campbell, Ivan
Bingston, police judge. The present town officers and board are: W. L. Cohagen,
Aaron Blomquist, W. J. Dean, Thure Ostegren, L. G. Crampton, C. O. Rodine,
Clerk; A. D. Bush, police, and I. M. Kuntsen, magistrate.
Among those who are living in
town now, of the pioneers who lived here in the first few years, are W. L.
Cohagen, Sam Biggs, Charles Larson, Mrs. Lisa Lingahl, Emma Bengstron, T. O.
Larson, I. J. Lampshire, A. D. Bush, Carl Bush and Chris
Christensen.