Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

I was reading my Naponee file and found the following article in a 1974 edition of the Franklin county Sentinel. I have always heard of the diary that J. M. Ray kept in his first days here in Franklin County. I inquired to those who were his relatives and no one seems to know where the diary is. I would love to get my hands on it to read.

J. M. Ray was one of the very first people in this county if not the first. I have heard he may have arrived in the late 1860’s and that he lived with the Indians before he came here from another state up north. I also heard he gave all his children Indian names.

J. M. was a colorful character. He lived approximately a mile north of Naponee and then east approximately a quarter of a mile on a side hill in a dug out. He later built a large house north and across the road from his dugout.

Following are the excerpts from J. M. Ray’s diary.

“Because a party of nominal ladies engaged John White to drive to the Alma Fair, he is all puffed up with the idea he is the most popular young man in town.

“Dr. Hoylman reports an 11 ½ pound boy at Joe Meltons on Wednesday evening. As Joe manipulates the meat market scales his patrons can compute the correct weight of the boy.

“(1908) Invitations out for the marriage of Emma Williams and Fred Mengers.

“January 1904, Mathias Bendel, 85 years old.

“ J. A. McCready decided to stop at St. Joe instead of Quincy. Mattie was in poor health this past year and change may help.

“Louis Rosenthal was born in Germany in 1836. Coming to the U. S. he settled in Illinois, coming to Naponee in 1884, moved to Gibbon where he died November 4, 1906. Mabel Simmons is a daughter and as this is written on May 8, 1974, another daughter, Mrs. Gschwedtner, resides in Canada.

“Pickled pigs feet, tripe and sauerkraut were for sale at Faubions in 1903. Mike Hirsch had a complete line of horse blankets, robes and 118 different styles of pocketknives. Mike had also placed a streetlight in front of his store.

“ Douglas Landreth sold his livery barn, stock and fixtures last Saturday to Thomas and John White.

“R. F. Croley has sold his stock of hardware and building to Will Collins.

“G. S. Gillard has the most complete line of dry goods, clothing, shoes and groceries ever shown in Naponee. Prices can’t be beat.

“ Tom Mullaly Sr. has sold his Turkey Creek Ranch. It consists of about 1,700 acres and the consideration was $32, 000. Friends of Mr. Schluntz from Iowa are said to be purchaser. Tom lied up Turkey Creek, when the Indians and buffaloes were about his only neighbors.

“ Pat Waters had an unpleasant experience during the recent cold snap. He lives alone and was sick three weeks before his brother-in-law Wm. Fitzpatrick or his neighbors became aware of the fact. He turned the stock into the cornfield and fortunately had sufficient fuel on hand. It was no doubt, the longest three weeks of his life.

“While shelling corn at B. Goedekens, one of Green Goodins horses was painfully injured. The hair of its tail which was very long, caught and wrapped around the tumbling rod and in the struggle to free it self, the tail was torn off leaving only a stub four inches long.

“Woolfords Sanitary Lotion it is said will cure the itch in 30 minutes. This may be of interest to certain readers.

“Mrs. Magdalene Hirsch passed away at her home north of Naponee.

“Dr. Hoylman reported the arrival of twin babies in the Wm. Melton Home.”

Being kind is more important than being right. Andy Rooney.

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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