Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

For another day followers this week will be reading about a different area of Franklin County. I often write of the areas around Bloomington, Franklin and Naponee, but this week’s article is about the northwest part of the county. While reading the 1979 Franklin County Historical News printed in the past issues of the Franklin County Sentinel, I found an interesting article on Moline.

Sometime in the future I will be writing more about George Jackson and Willard Weston. The only stationary place that remains to remind people Moline was a community is the cemetery and an old house sitting on the corner that once was the store. I hope to learn more about this area in the future.

MOLINE

From the Franklin County Sentinel:

Moline was a community located 10 miles southeast of Wilcox in Franklin County, NE.

Pioneer Willard Weston, homesteaded 16 acres in Ash Grove Township, Franklin County, NE in the year 1879. In 1883, he deeded two acres of land in Ash Grove Township for the Moline Cemetery. Mr. Weston also owned the town land across the road in Lincoln Township. He operated a general store, and also dealt in farm implements. Moline’s first post office was in his home. Later, he became the mail driver from Lowell to Orleans, and changed horses at Moline.

Mr. Samuel Chatterton also had a general store at Moline. The post office was moved to his store. Besides being the postmaster, Chatterton also had charge of the cemetery.

Mrs. Hemen Platt (Rose Beitel) operated a hat store. The little town had a blacksmith shop owned by Mr. Lire Jackson, and there was a church and one-room schoolhouse. The first church was called Morning Star.

On December 4, 1883, a meeting was held at the George Jackson home to organize the Congregational Brethren in Christ Church, to be known as the Moline Church. Mr. Weston gave the land for the church and also boarded the carpenters while the church was built. The church was sold to the Mennonite Brethren in Christ in 1896 for $400 due to lack of interest. In the summer of 1911, the church was struck by lightening and burned.

With the coming of the railroad in 1886-1889, the little town moved, leaving the church and school house.

The church was sold to Moline Cemetery for $1.00 cash in hand in 1923. Later, again, the church building was sold at auction to George Beitel and Orval Gitt in 1942 for $400.00. They dismantled it for lumber.

The land was returned to Fooke Garrelts, owner of the Lincoln Township land and the school building was sole. The Moline Cemetery had been kept up will during all these years.

Oh, how good it feels;

The hand of an old friend. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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