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Alma
was laid out and named several years ago, and it became the county seat long
before there was much else here.
It’s real history and life
began about twelve months since. In
fact, these people celebrated their first anniversary on the 14th of this month with considerable collate, and
the elements helped them.
The place numbers
approximately 600 people, and they are more thrifty and enterprising than the
average young communities in a new country.
It is a flourishing place with
buildings going up on every hand, and business marching right along. The town enjoys the advantages of a graded
school with an enrollment of 117 scholars, a Sabbath school with and average
attendance of 123. For the latter much
credit is due Mrs. Rebecca Dixon. She has labored persistently to build up so
good a work, and how well she has succeeded this most excellent organization
testifies. Such women are the real
mothers of our country and the pillars of society.
Appropriations have been made
for church buildings, and it is expected two or three will be erected this
season. There are several church
organizations, and services are held in the school house and in the public halls.
Under the head of educations
may be mentioned the Standard, an eight column to the page folic sheet, bright
and crisp. It is edited by Wm. R. Davis,
a wide-awake and experienced newspaper man.
Mr. Davis is quite enthusiastic over the prospects of the great Republican
Valley, the excellence of his
county and the place of his adoption. He
came from Washington two or three
years ago, where he was for a number of years pay clerk in the post office
department. The Standard is a live
sheet, and it is doing its full share in making known the advantages of this
part of the State. At the head of its
ticket stands the name of “James G. Blaine of Maine.”
With commendable enterprise
these people are building a court house.
It is to be a two-story structure, 32X42, built of wood, appropriately
arranged and finished off and fitted up for the several purposes for which it
is designed. The upper floor will
contain the court and jury rooms. Below
there will be five departments for the various county offices. It is to be completed early this season.
A good bridge has been built
across the river at this point, thus enabling the settlers south of here, and
even down in some of the adjoining counties of Kansas,
to reach the railroad here and exchange commodities and friendly greetings with
their neighbors on this side.
Here is a good opening for a
flouring mill. The surrounding country
is fast settling up, and considerable grain is raised here already. A first class water power is said to exist on
the river, and some of these enterprising citizens would lend a helping hand to
such a work.
Alma
is 251 miles from Omaha, seven
miles north of the Kansas line,
in the ninth tier of counties from the Missouri River,
and 145 miles from the Colorado
line. For a town so young its moral and
social status is really commendable, and there is a spirit of ideal pride and
progress among the people that speaks volumes for their enterprise.
Willits & McManus – Ed L.
Willits and L. B. McManus – carry on a general goods store and do a first class
business. They came her from Dorchester,
this state, about twelve months ago, and opened with everything in the line but
drugs, hardware and clothing. Both
gentlemen were originally from Illinois. They put up a suitable building, started
ahead and have been reaching out and building up steadily since. They are just in the prime of their manhood,
full of resolution and business ability, and they have established not only a
magnificent trade but have won a reputation for integrity, liberality and
public spirit, that places them on the role of honor among the substantial and
successful business houses of the country.
James Bradford came from Springfield,
Illinois, and opened out here last June
with a stock of general merchandise. He
carries a full stock and is doing a handsome business. His trade has exceeded his expectations and
it is daily increasing. It is his
intention to build this season and so provide capacity for a much heavier
stock. Mr. Bradford is a native of the
Blue Grass State, was there educated, and his home was there when the country
was overshadowed, and armies were marching, and fraternal blood was drenching
the sod and the nation was in tears. He
is a well informed gentleman, has rend law, had experience in the newspaper
capacity and appreciates the life of a man in the profession.
John A.
Randall put in a stock
of general goods last February, and has been having a fair trade right
along. He cam from Iowa
here but was born in Pennsylvania. In a short time Mr. Randall will move into a
fine new building, being prepared for him in the business center of the
town. He has been doing even better than he anticipated at the beginning
and thinks when he gets into the new store he will have his hands full. His stock will be select and he will have no
fears of competition.
N. Wilson
deals in staple and fancy groceries at the emigrant store. He came her a year ago from Exeter,
this State and from West Virginia
to Nebraska. Ten years he has resided in the State, helped
to organize Fillmore County
and there lived for a period of nine years.
He carries a choice and well selected stock of family groceries, has a
growing trade and strives to merit the good will of his fellow citizens.
C. O. Smith has only been here
about six weeks, but he is starting in bravely and will grow up in the
country. He cam from Sutton, this State,
has been in Nebraska eight
years. On arriving here he went into the
lumber business, but sold out immediately and started a grocery and provisions
store. His building is well filled with
a number one stock. Although in
operation but a few days, he has a lively trade and with his indomitable push
he will make business and money. He owns
town property and other realty and is on the road to better times.
The banking house of L. R.
Grimes was opened on the 21st
of January, 1880. Mr. Grimes
is a native of Ohio, came west
and settled in Iowa in 1853. During the war he was three years in the
army, in every Southern State but Florida
and Alabama; came to Nebraska
in 1870 and settled in Saline County. Four years he was in the county clerk’s
office—’71 to ’75; practiced law for a time and in 1876 went into the banking
business at Sutton, this State, in company with Mr. Dinamore. A general banking is carried on here; drafts
are drawn on the principal banks of this country and Europe
and money loaned on real estate and personal securities. Mr. Grimes has a very pretty banking room,
provided with one of Hall’s chronometer, combination, burglar and fire-proof
safes, together with such other conveniences as properly belong to a well
arranged banking house.
Jerry B. Billings is
proprietor of the Monitor House, one of the best hotels in the valley. Mr. Billings came here eight years ago from Butler
County, Iowa. He had a hand in locating the town, and in
helping it along in the days of it feebleness.
The Monitor is well finished off, can accommodate thirty or forty guests
and is a tidy cheerful travelers’ home.
Mr. Billings proposes to enlarge this season and thus make it equal to
the demand. In addition to his property
and business in town he owns a fine body of land near—480 acres and has 160
acres under cultivation.
E. H. Booth has been here
since December 1, 1870. He came from Knoxville,
Marion County, Iowa, but was formerly from Connecticut. Mr. Booth is proprietor of the Commercial
Hotel, one of the best houses here. He
has been eighteen years in the hotel business and can handle a crowd as few men
understand. His building is not large
but he can stow away more guests in the square inch then any man living.
Dixon & Brothers are
hardware dealers. They carry a well
selected stock of general hardware, agricultural implements and machinery, wood
for wagons and plows, shelf goods and cutlery, and, in fact, everything in
their line suited to the trade. Jacob
Dixon came her three years ago last November, and for the past two years has
followed this business. G. W. Dixon
arrived in December last from Monroe County, Iowa,
and the brothers became associated. They
have recently put up a new building, two stories, 21X13, reside above and have
their store and tinshop on the lower floor.
In front of the store they have put up a Fairbanks
scale capable of weighing four tons at a single draft. The Dixons are energetic men, have
established a flourishing trade, and are esteemed for their reliability as
business men and worth as citizens.
Jones, Magee & Company
started a lumber yard here the last of October, 1873. They carry a general stock of everything in
the line of all kinds of lumber, sash, doors, blinds, shingles, lath,
moldings, coal, lime, cement, plastering hair and so on through a long
catalogue. This turn with characteristic
liberality contributed lumber to the amount of $200 worth in and of the new
court house that is being erected here.
It is a heavy and popular firm, and is doing a vast business in the
towns of this valley. C. B. Wortham is
the very efficient agent in charge at this place.
Will Downs
was appointed county clerk of Harlan County,
May 1875; was elected at the regular fall election that year, and has been
successively elected at each election since.
He came into the county eight years ago the 17th of this
month, in company with Sheriff Cave
from Indiana. Mr. Downs estimates the present population of
the county at 7,000. There is no bonded
debt and taxes are levied sufficient to pay all other indebtedness. In his official capacity Mr. Downs is
eminently competent, and he is highly popular among the people.
D. W. Cave was elected sheriff
of Harlan County
at the last general election in November.
He has resided eight years in the county, has a farm of 160 acres, with
120 acres under cultivation. Himself and
the county clerk, Mr. Downs, were among the first to settle in this part of the
state, coming from Jennings County,
Indians. The Indians and the buffalo
were then here and the march of empire has just began. Mr. Cave is highly spoken of as an officer
and a citizen. In addition to his
official duties he deals in real estate and drives business generally.
John Dawson, attorney at law,
has been here two years. There were not
a half dozen houses in Alma of his
arrival. Mr. Dawson was born in Ireland,
came to the united States at an early day, studied law in Missouri, was there
admitted. Subsequently he practiced in Palo
Alto Iowa, and came to this
place from Dubuque County,
that state. Over two hundred and fifty
cases have been tried by him since he hung out his shingle here. He began at the bed rock and has worked his
way up to success and profit.
Jesse M. Hiatt is attorney at
law, real estate agent, abstracter of titles, and agent for the B. & M.
Railroad Company’s lands in Alma. He was the second lawyer to hang out his
shingle in Alma, pays especial attention to real estate matters an does an
extensive business in that line. Mr.
Hiatt came from Manaska County, Iowa,
in 1879, put up a neat little office here and will build this season a fine
residence. He is a man of Integrity and
a valuable citizen.
Honorable George S. Fisber settled
in Alma, August, 1879, in the
practice of law. He is a native of Boston,
Mass., but was raised in Illinois. In sentiment and sympathy he is a western
man, possesses liberal and comprehensive views of men and measures, and has seen
much of the world. He studied law with
Judge Dickey, of Illinois, for
three years, was licensed to practice in 1854, and was subsequently associated
with Mr. Dickey for several years. When the war began he was special agent of
the government on the Pacific coast, rendered efficient aid in the behalf of
the Union and did much to stay the uplifted hand during those tumultuous
times. November, 1862, he was appointed
U. S. Counsel to Japan,
sailed the following March, and remained until the summer of 1867. May, 1874, he was sent to Turkey
as counsel, and after two years returned to Washington. He was in the war of 1846-47-48 against
Mexico, sunk a fortune in a plantation is Georgia after the rebellion, and at
last comes to Nebraska to breathe her pure air, partake of her liberal and
progressive spirit, become identified with her development, and spend the
remainder of his days in this land of freedom and toleration. Before many months his family will come on
from the east, and he will have a home for them, and may blessings lighten
their hearts and prosperity abide with them.
C. C. Flansburg does a general
law business, attends to collections, land cases and other business in the line
of his profession. He haws a good
library, a cozy office, and does a handsome practice. Mr. Flansburg is from
Galva, Henry County, Illinois. He
located here last September, built the law office in town and is the youngest
member of the profession in the county.
He studied with H. Bigelow, of Illinois, was admitted to practice in the
supreme court of that state at the age of 22, saddled his mule, came out west
for the benefit of his health and to expand his ideas on these prairies.
W. L. Livingston came to the
county about four years ago. In company with Mr. Bardon he started the
Standard, a paper now in full blast here. L Mr. Livingston is an attorney at
law and is following his profession. He
is what is termed out in this country “a rustler” and is competent to take care
of himself whether school keeps or not.
A few months since some of the
young men of town concluded they would have a band. An organization was affected, money raised,
instruments purchased and less than two months ago they began practicing under
the leadership of E. E. Scott. They have
made most excellent progress, and will eventually no doubt make one of the best
bands in the state. Mr. Scott is an
accomplished musician and a thorough band master. Alma
has reason to be proud of her band, and the progress its members are making in
the musical world. Music is a charming
accomplishment, and should be encouraged everywhere. The world is full of music, and as we are
taught, so are the heavens above. There
is music in the rustle of a leaf, and the winds that sigh among the pines sing
a solemn song. We read of the harp
of David and the sweet singer of Israel
and all down the ages music has held the foremost place among human
accomplishments. At the dawn of creation
music was the first thing the Creator set in motion, for we are informed that
“the morning stars sang together,” and all the sons of God shouted for joy over
the grand result. Look into the home or
heart where there is no music and you will find wickedness in every corner. The birds sing and the beasts are musical,
and the roar of the cataract, and the peal of the thunder and the voice of the
whirlwind are a peculiar music. Old
ocean chants a requiem over the dead that slumbers in the bosom. So, boys, learn music and take it into your
hearts and your homes and it will make you happier and better men.
F. M. Foster is the oldest
settler in Alma precinct. He came here in advance of the pioneers, when
few but venturesome hunters traversed these valleys and crossed these
divides. Those were the days that tried
men’s mettle, and furnished the brains and muscle and courage that is now
peopling this region. Mr. Foster is lord
of a little domain near here, and his years go down into oblivion he is certain
a grand fortune awaits this great country.
Levi Allen owns a fine piece
of land, of 160 acres, adjoining town.
He came in 1873, paid $700 for his place and two years there after
offered it for $500. That was when the
country went back a little. He couldn’t
find a purchaser and was obliged to remain.
It was the best stick he ever made.
Hi is now comfortable and happy.
It would take several thousand dollars to buy him out. His farm yields him seventy tons of hay annually,
a large amount of grain, stock and other produce.
Wells Willits is from Mercer
County, Illinois, and arrived
her July, 1878. He came early enough to
get hold of town property. Eighty acres
of land laid off in lots, buildings are dotting it over and pretty improvements
are being made on various parts of it.
Mr. Willits offers liberal inducements to those who will build, become
bona fide settlers, and so add to the real worth and substantial growth of the
town. He has contributed liberally to public
improvements, encouraged the various enterprises that are prime factors in the
up building of our communities, and in establishing their social status; and he
is prized for his sterling qualities and representative ability.
John Guyer was appointed post
master of Alma
tow years ago. He came to this country
-----, Staffer in 1872, from Waterloo,
Hawk County, Iowa. When he came he located land near where the
town now stands, but in 1875 he moved down on the town site and built the first
log cabin for a hotel. It has since been
known as the Pioneer stage station. The
spring of 1876 he put up a building 20x40, destined for a court house; it has
been used for that purpose ever since.
When he arrived here his possessions of consisted of $2.65 in money,
four horses and two bovines, a family, high hopes, large expectations, plenty
of muscle and a great amount of resolution.
At one time he offered all his tangible property for a yoke of cheap
steers to take him out of the country, but the proposition was not accepted and
he thinks providence has something to do about it. At any rate he is here and is not sorry he
weathered through. He now owns 460 acres
of choice land, has 213 acres of it under cultivation, and has growing over
23,000 trees that he has put out since he came here. Mr. Guyer owns a large amount of property in
town, has just completed a new building where the post office is established
and where he carries on a general goods business, and there himself and family
abide. On his farms he keeps about forty
head of American cattle, the necessary teams and other appurtenances. He is not sorry he came here and is glad he
could not get away when he wanted to.
Poverty although very inconvenient, is sometimes a blessing in disguise.
Frank Shaffer does a livery
sale and feed business at the checkered front stable. He has one of the best barns in the valley,
with stables for forty horses; room for carriages, hay, grain and
appurtenances, together with a good office and lodging room for employees. He keeps from thirteen to fifteen horses,
seven vehicles of every kind and the necessary paraphernalia. Mr. Shaffer came here over eight years ago,
assisted in surveying out the town, hauled his swelling off his farm into town
to be used for a court house. When he
took his claim 1,200 Indians were encamped on it, and many buffalo has
succumbed to his rifle as he fired from the threshold of his door. He was the first man to run a stage line and
carry the U. S. Mail in this upper country, kept the first livery stable for
fifty miles around. He built the first
two story house in this part of the country, paid $70 per M for lumber to do it
with, and started the first conveyance for passengers across the country
between here and the Platte. At that early day there were no wells on all
that route, a distance of fifty-five miles, so water had to be hauled in kegs
for both man and beast. In those days
the buffalo would eat up his sod corn and the Indians would persist in taking
the little he had left. When the
grasshoppers came they were too much for him, and he went back to his original
home in Buffalo County, Iowa. But this wild western life has charms for
him, so he returned to complete it and live down its necessities. He has seen the last of those primitive
elements disappear like a vision, and the arts of peach and progress bloom in
their place.
J. T. Clark handles agricultural
machinery, implements and other goods.
He will carry all the various articles required in a new county in his
line. It is his desire to concentrate
the entire business of the place in those branches and so do the business as it
should be done. He will put up sheds and
other structures this season for his goods and make ample preparation for doing
a large amount of work. Mr. Clark is an
enterprising young man, of good business habits, has been for years in this
business, owns 320 acr3s of land and has 100 acres in crop. He cam from Iowa
to Nebraska, and has lived six
years in this country. He needs no
propping up.
J. E. Burk started in the drug
business the first of last July. In August he put up a snug little building
and stocked it with a good line of drugs, books, paints, oils, glass and other
articles in the line. M. A. Burk has charge of the enterprise. They are from Denison,
Iowa; have a neat little store and do a
pretty business.
B. M. Simms, formerly Forsha
and Simms, arrived here a year ago, the
14th day of this month from Pawnee City,
Nebraska.
He was originally from Salom County, New
Jersey. Mr.
Simms is in the drug business, has a snug building and is doing a thrifty
trade. He began in a small way, has been
gradually climbing up and can now book over the troubled waters into the haven
of better days.
D. W. Fellers carries on a
harness shop. He has a well constructed
building, everything in good working order; has been here but little more than
two months and opened his shop less than three weeks since. Mr. Fellers was from Saline
County, this state, but formerly
from Ohio. He is quite young, but a good mechanic,
industrious, of steady habits, and if he preservers in well doing he will find
smooth sailing in this land of great opportunities.
The Fletcher Brothers, C. M.
and C. P., arrived here last October from Missouri,
and soon after opened a harness shop.
They are both young men, 21 and 19 respectively. For new beginners they are doing well, are
good workmen, of steady habits, and hundreds of men under less favorable
circumstances have rose to fame and fortune.
They are lords of their workshop and masters of their occupation, and
belted knight ne’er bore a nobler title.
Ackerman & Hults came her
from Hastings, put up a neat little
butcher shop and have been in the business but little more than a month. They are already driving a flourishing trade
and are giving excellent satisfaction.
They furnish the best the country affords and spare no pains or expense
to secure it. Mr. Ackerman was raised in
Ohio, and has lived in Nebraska
twenty-two years. Mr. Hults is a native
of Michigan, and came to Nebraska
eighteen years ago.
Campbell & Moore—William
Campbell and H. T. Moore—have been in business here less than thirteen months. Mr. Campbell came from West
Virginia and Mr. Moore from Pennsylvania. They carry on a general blacksmithing, make
plows, wagons, carriages and do other similar work. They are wide awake men and are making things
move with vireo. Others may wait for good
times and plenty of business, but they will make both, not only for themselves
but for those who follow their example.
J. A. VerBryck, settled here about a year ago,
coming from Chicago. He is a contractor and builder, and has done
most of the work in that line since his arrival. He has made his own little home in the
meantime, and put up twenty-five buildings for other parties. Mr. VerBryck. is a good mechanic, a live
business man and has done well here.
Mrs. VerBryck carries on a pretty millinery store; so husband and wife
pull together, share in the profits and are laying the foundation for a
competence in this new country.
D. Shutt has jut opened a
pretty jewelry store. He came direct
from Philadelphia. His stock consists of watches, clocks,
jewelry, eye glasses and other goods suited to the trade. Mr. Shutt is a skillful watchmaker and
jeweler of twenty years experience. He
is also a practical photographer, and would start a gallery could he source the
services of an artist to take charge of it.
A. D. Gardner carries on a
furniture store. His is a general stock
suited to the trade, together with coffins and undertakers goods, sewing
machines, moldings and similar articles.
He purchases in St. Joe and St. Louis,
Mrs. Gardner is from Elgin, Illinois
to Nebraska, and from Fairburg
here. When they get far enough along to
start a grave yard here he will do well, coffins are not yet very lively.
Wm. Van Winkle is the Alma
painter. He has been in Nebraska
twelve years and has seen the ups and downs of those who struggled through the
intervening years. Mr. Van Winkle does
sign and ornamental work, graining and all kinds of house painting. He is a competent artist, full of business
and will do well in this field.
Morris Conklin came here three
years ago last November from Clyde, Wayne
County, N. Y. He is a native of Vermont,
but was brought up in the former state.
Mr. Conklin has been justice of the peace here for two years, owns 160
acres of prime and near town. Has forty
acres under cultivation.
N. F. Johnson carries on the
only billiard hall in town. The room is
23x40, well finished and contains one table.
Another table is soon to be added.
It is a temperance establishment, nothing stronger than lemonade and
cider being dealt out over the polished counter. Mr. Johnson came here about twelve months
since from York states, the land of
his nativity, pitches his tent and is prepared to grow up in this country.
Hall
Alma, Harlan
County, Nebraska,
April 17, 1880
Omaha
Herald –April 22, 1880
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