This special edition was intended to PROMOTE Nebraska as a state and provide the towns of with an opportunity to advertise their status, attract new residents.
County Seat of Nemaha County - On the Burlington & Missouri and Missouri Pacific Railroads - Seventy-one Miles From Lincoln - Population Three Thousand.
Auburn is the county seat, and situated at the center of Nemaha county on the Little Nemaha river. This is one of the earliest settled counties of the state, having the Missouri river for its eastern boundary. For many years the old county seat, Brownville, was one of the leading cities of the state. In 1881 the Missouri Pacific railroad and Burlington & Missouri Pacific railroad were built through the county and Auburn sprung into existence, so that this city is but six years old. It has a population of 3,000. Its assessed valuation of property is about $200,000, making the real valuation about $500,000. It has depots on both lines of railroads, with a steam elevator at each. We have a large steam roller flouring mill with all modern improvements. We have four weekly papers and one daily printed by a steam power press. We have two primary ward school buildings of two rooms each, and a brick high school building of three rooms costing $8,000. Eight teachers are employed. We have Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Christian, Lutheran and Baptist societies having church edifices. No saloons.
The business of the town is a follows: First National bank, capital $50,000, surplus $3,000. Stock owned by B. Lombard, jr., of Boston, F.W. Samuelson of Humboldt, Hon. Church Howe and other resident farmers. The Carson National; bank, capital $60,000. Stock owned by J.L. Carson and other residents of the county. Both banks have elegant quarters and are doing a good business. Two lumber yards. There are also three hardware stores, one exclusive dry goods store, one exclusive grocery store, one exclusive boot and shoe store, eight general merchandise stores, five drug stores, three harness shops, two furniture stores, one book and music store, two mammoth hotels, the Talmage and the Holdrege, both first class, three butcher shops, four blacksmith and wagon shops, two of which use steam power, two bus lines, three boarding houses, five restaurants, three livery stables, one water flouring mill, four millinery stores, two photograph galleries, one patent fence factory, four implement warehouses, two post offices, two opera houses, both having fine stages and scenery, Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias lodges, a well improved fair ground adjacent to the city on the north, a shady park inside of city limits, three barber shops and one paint and carriage repair shop.
The Missouri Pacific railroad is now ironing a branch road from here to Nebraska City. No doubt they will soon make this a division as it is now their coaling station, thus locating here their repair shops. The Wabash is preparing to use the old Brownville & Fort Kearney grade, thus giving us another east and west line. The Missouri Pacific railroad will build southwest from here during the summer, giving us railroads in eight different directions. We are now paying twenty-five cents per hundred more for stock and two cents more for corn than any town in this part of the state. This is one of the best fruit and vegetable counties of the state, and a canning factory could be supplied to its fullest capacity. Yes, three of them from the start. This is the great want of the city just now. Liberal inducements will be made to any parties who will locate this enterprise here. Two years ago a $5,000 creamery burned. The owner had not the means to rebuild. It was a success for two seasons. This being a stock county and many farms being seeded down to tame grasses, an immense quantity of milk and cream was gathered in a short distance from town. A bonus will be given to any party who will build and operate a good one. Two can find plenty of material for butter and cheese within reach. No better location exists for a paper factory or a woolen factory. Coal is only $4.50 per ton, wood $4.50 per cord, and by our railroad facilities it is a good point for distribution as we are on direct lines to Omaha, St. Louis, Chicago, Denver and all important railroad centers of this state. The fact that we have no saloons is much to a company wanting to get value received from its employees. Lots will be sold, cheap to parties who will build homes and easy terms given. Auburn is the healthiest, prettiest most energetic and desirable place for a home of any town in Nebraska. She will do the right thing for any manufacturing company who will come here and locate.
Located in Nemaha County - On the Burlington & Missouri Railroad - Eighty-four Miles from Lincoln - Population Five Hundred.
Nemaha City is situated in Nemaha county, about thirty miles north from the Kansas and Nebraska state line, on the east side of the Nemaha river near where it empties into the Missouri river, right in the mouth of the Little Nemaha valley, one of the most fertile and beautiful little valleys in the world. Nemaha City has always been regarded by travelers and visitors as the handsomest town site on the Missouri river. It is an old town, but not withstanding its age, "natural advantages," and inviting location, it never boomed greatly after the fashion we read of, and in fact was regarded as dead for years before the B. & M. railroad company brought within its line the locomotive, that most potent of boom promoters to western towns. Since that time its growth has been steady and permanent. Nemaha City is quite a railroad town. Trains every morning meet here from the north, south and west, make up their freights and depart again on the various lines. No better railroad facilities are to be found in any western town. A disinterested reporter has said of this town: "No place could be more eligibly located." Most of the branches of business common to towns of 500 inhabitants are here represented, but in this respect Nemaha City is not "overcome"-in fact is hardly up to the demands of the exceedingly rich surrounding country which naturally does it selling and buying here. Nemaha City is an excellent opening for manufactories and first class business houses. It has a respectable school building, and a good school, nice churches, a live newspaper, the best thirteen instrument cornet band in southeast Nebraska, and most admirable social advantages. These, with its many other attractions, make it a desirable locality whereat to make a home or to engage in business. Town lots here are not held at fancy prices, and Nemaha will therefore improve more this season than any other town in the county.
Situated in Nemaha County - On the Burlington & Missouri Railroad - Seventy-one miles from Lincoln - Population Six Hundred.Peru is a lively little town in Nemaha county located on the west bank of the Missouri river, on the Nebraska City and Beatrice branch of the Burlington & Missouri railroad. It is one of the oldest towns of the county, the town site having been entered at the Brownville land office September 10, 1859. For many years it was one of the leading towns of the county, but the springing up of competing points near the center of the county on the Missouri Pacific railroad has to some extent checked her rapid growth. At present Peru has a population of more than 600 not including the students of the State Normal school. The business map of Peru are enterprising and the shipments show that a great deal of business has been done in the last year.
The Peru markets are always good compared with those of the adjoining towns.
Our merchants are several in number yet they all seem to be carrying on a successful trade. The mercantile firms are represented by two general merchandise, one grocery, two drug stores, one hardware, one furniture store, one harness ship, two millinery stores, one lumber yard, one hotel and one photographer. The Peru "Argus" edited by H. Parkinson, is the only newspaper printed in the town. There are two bands, the Peru corner band which Mr. Parkinson is leader and Vance's silver band, of which Mr. Ed Vance is the leader. They are by far the best in the county.
A great many of the children of the town are admitted into the practice classes at the Normal, yet the village school has an attendance of more than 90. There are three church edifices in town, the Methodist, Episcopal, the Baptist and the Episcopalian. The Baptist and the Methodists each have a very large membership. Each have preaching every Sunday evening, and prayer meeting on Thursday evenings.
Rev. B Bedell is the pastor of the Baptist and Rev. J.S. W. Dean of the M.E. church. There is no regular pastor at present of the Episcopalian. But they usually have preaching every two weeks, on Monday evenings, by ministers from Brownville and Nebraska City.
The town is free from saloons, gambling dens and all other haunts of vice making it a very agreeable place for young men and women who wish to attend the State Normal School.
Located at Peru, Nebraska - One of the Most Eminent Institutions of Its Kind in the Country - A description of Its Buildings and Appointments."The teachers constitute a portion of the educational batteries in which the electricity is to be generated, that shall flash to power and light throughout the land." - Ex Gov. R. W. Furnas
The Nebraska State Normal school was made a state institution June 26, 1867. What is now used as a dormitory for young ladies was at that time the normal building. In 1874 the main part of the present normal building, 95x80 feet was built.The walls are even and the roof is covered with tasteful creatings of galvanized iron.
Besides closets, corridors, etc., the basement contains eleven rooms. The engines and fuel occupy two of these. One is used for a music room, one for a carpenter shop, and the two large south rooms are used for library purposes. The east one, 40x18, is the library proper and the west one is a reading room. The library was lately moved from the second floor as the old library room was too small. Several hundred new volumes have lately been purchased and put into the new room, making it one of the largest libraries in the state. The other rooms of the basement are used by the janitor and for store rooms.
On the first floor is the laboratory, occupying the east half of the new building, the principal's parlors, reception room and office, the west half. There are five class rooms on this floor besides the rooms mentioned.
On the second floor is a large chapel 65x60 feet which will comfortably seat five hundred persons. Then there are six class rooms on this floor. The two large commodious society rooms and three class rooms on the third floor. The rooms are well finished and fitted up for their different purposes. The corridors are wide and well lighted, the stairways broad and easy and cloakrooms and other conveniences provided on every floor.
The laboratory is well equipped with the necessary apparatus, chemicals, and growing botanical, zoological, entomological and geological cabinets.
The different class rooms are filled with specimens of original work done by students of the institution.
The building is surrounded by a beautiful campus, which is well set in blue grass and dotted with evergreens, oaks and other kinds of shade trees. Near the building are large groves of oak and other timber of the climate, making it one of the most beautiful and picturesque places. The grounds are enclosed by a board fence.
This school, like the state which supports it, has grown from insignificance to be an institution of great power and benefit, and at present ranks with the leading institutions of the kind in the country.
Every year graduates are going out from the school and receiving important positions throughout this and other states. The demand for normal teachers it becoming greater and greater every year. The liberal appropriations of the legislature, the good management of the board, and the efficient work of the faculty enables the school to keep pace with the state and the times. Never in the history of the institution has the school been in a more progressive condition than at the present, a great deal of which can be attributed to the management and skill of the principal, Geo. L. Farnham. During the last year four hundred and ninety-two students have attended the school, and from present indications the attendance this year will be much greater.
There will be about seventy graduate next June, seventeen of whom graduate from the higher course.