Phelps Helps Newsletters can be found on the Internet at http://www.4w.com/pages/psimpson
~WELCOME NEW MEMBERS !!~
JUDY SAN JACKSON
Requesting information on information on the Jackson family who lived in Phelps County, NE in the early 1900s.
DONNA RIEMAN
Researching the John Ekberg family who came to Phelps County in the 1800s.
CHRISTY LOGAN OBERMIRE
Requesting information on William & Hannah Logan family who lived in Williamsburg in the 1880s and 1890s.
ELDRED W. MELTON
Looking for information on Sebastian Riley McIlhiney and Martha "Mattie" Jane Gayle (Gale).
CHARLENE A. WELLMAN
Looking for information on William J. and Elizabeth (Waddy) Thomas.
KEN ISENHART
Researching the Andres and Anna (Sakrison) Lohn family of Phelps County, NE.
~New on Our Bookshelf~
~Donations~
NEW BOOKS FROM SARA FIREHAMMER
TRACING YOUR CIVIL WAR ANCESTOR, in the name of LAUREN (STAIF) LENEY
EARLY SETTLERS OF INDIANA "GORE", in the name of ANDREW M. MIDKIFF
EARLY OHIO SETTLERS, in the name of MILFORD SKOOG
MAP GUIDE TO AMERICAN MIGRATION ROUTES, in the name of KATHLEEN (WAGNER) SKOOG
ALLEGHENY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS, in the name of DEMPSY MCNIEL
2 ISSUES OF NEBRASKA HISTORY, 1980s Issues, in the name of JOAN L. (SKOOG) BECKMAN.
NEW BOOK FROM DOROTHY RICHMOND
TAYLOR COUNTY, IOWA HISTORY, Vol. 1&2
MORE NEW BOOKS...
THE SCHLEUSENER CHRONICLE
by Marion (Schleusener) Abramson. Part of this Schleusener family lived in Oxford, NE area.
THE BERGSTRESSER FAMILY IN AMERICA, Vol. II, published by Elizabeth Jones.
~NEW BIOGRAPHIES ~
Catherine Spude, Santa Fe, NM has rejoined our genealogy club. She has sent us two "Ancestor of the Year" biographies of Caroline AXELSEN WINTHER AND PETER WINTHER. In her enclosed letter she says "During my visit to the Phelps County Museum library,I found a hand-written manuscript recording some of the reminiscences of Caroline Winther,my great great grandmother. It was such a wonderful thing to find in your files! I never dreamed that I would be able to discover so much about the personal life of someone that distantly related to me, someone who had died before my mother's birth, and who no one I knew remembered. It was almost as good as being able to talk to her myself.
The finding of that manuscript inspired me to start writing biographies of my ancestors and sharing them with my mother, brother, sister, aunts, uncles and cousins that shared these ancestors with me. Because there are probably other descendants who I do not know, I would like to donate these biographies to the Phelps County Museum Library, in hopes they will be found by other descendants."
Other Phelps County surnames Catherine is researching are SKEWS, CANNON &SAFETY.
THANK YOU CATHERINE FOR YOUR DONATION.
~PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ~
We hope you enjoy being a member of Holdrege Area Genealogy Club. Your participation in this organization is appreciated. Your suggestions welcome and needed. What programs do you want to see at our monthly meetings? What research materials do
you wish in our library? What kind of articles would you like to see in our "Phelps Helps" newsletter? Do you know someone who might give a program in the future? Please participate in our future and make this organization even better.
One of our future goals is to purchase the Soundex to the 1880 and 1900 Nebraska Census. We welcome donations to this project. Send or give your donation to our treasurer Ada Hinson.
We hope you have a good summer and in the process find interesting facts about your family history.
Your President, Sandra Slater
OUTSTANDING GENEALOGIST
Ada Hinson
Holdrege Area Genealogy Club appreciates Ada Hinson for all the volunteer hours she has donated for the betterment of the Holdrege Area Genealogy Club.
She has faithfully served as treasurer for many years. A job that has grown considerably since the early years of our organization. Holdrege Area Genealogy Club's membership has grown from twelve to fifty and has published four books, creating additional bookkeeping duties.
Ada volunteers two afternoons each week at the museum library driving thirty-six miles round trip. Working with Betty Rae Whitlock, Ada was instrumental is getting the library books cataloged. When Betty died, Ada took over the weekly tasks of maintaining the cataloging project. She has worked hundreds of hours at the library.
She has helped with our workshops, research projects and trained several of our new volunteers, helped catalog our Records Room and worked on our cemetery book projects.
Ada is a native Kansan who has no Nebraska relatives. She knows other faithful genealogists are working in her areas of research, which has assisted her own genealogy research. She understands the importance of a well organized library
"THANK YOU" from Holdrege Area Genealogy Club for all you do, especially for all the good times we have with you.
PUBLICATIONS FOR SALE
*NEW* HARLAN COUNTY NEBRASKA CEMETERIES
Compiled by Ben Boell, Republican City, NE., Published by Holdrege Area Genealogy Club. ($15.75 including tax plus $4.00 postage and handling. Outside United States add $7)
PHELPS COUNTY CEMETERIES, Vol. 1
Includes all Phelps County Cemeteries except Prairie Home Cemetery. ($15.75 tax included plus $2 postage and handling. Outside United States add $5)
PHELPS COUNTY CEMETERIES, Vol. 2
Includes Prairie Home Cemetery. (15.75 tax included plus $2 postage and handling. Outside United States add $5).
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CEMETERY, Harlan County, NE
($3.50 tax included plus $1.25 for postage and handling. Outside United States add $3.50.)
FUTURE PUBLICATIONS
PRESENTLY BEING WORKED ON
MARRIAGES FOR PHELPS COUNTY, 1877 TO 1927: This publication will be an addition to our Phelps County books.
This Directory Listing is part of a1889 Phelps County Map at the Phelps County Museum
CENTER TOWNSHIP, PHELPS COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE BJORKMAN, FRED FARMER PHELPS BRAGG, C.A. FARMER PHELPS BRAGG, EMEL FARMER PHELPS CARLSON, J.M. FARMER HAYDON EKSTROM, OSCAR FARMER & STOCKMAN HOLDREGE ERICKSON, A. FARMER PHELPS ERICKSON, JOHN A. FARMER HOLDREGE HANSON, JOHN FARMER PHELPS JOHNSON, C. E. FARMER HOLDREGE LARSON, A. G. FARMER PHELPS LINDSTROM, CHARLES FARMER PHELPS OLSON, GUST FARMER HOLDREGE OSTGREN, ADOLPH FARMER PHELPS PETERSON, JOHN O. FARMER HAYDEN PETERSON, A. VICTOR FARMER HAYDEN POTTER, F. G. FARMER HOLDREGE SALHOLM, JOHN FARMER HOLDREGE THULIN, E. FARMER PHELPS YEAGER, FRED FARMER HOLDREGE
SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP, PHELPS COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE ASP, CHARLEY FARMER HOLDREGE BORGESON, ANDREW FARMER HOLDREGE CARLSON, V. C. FARMER HOLDREGE CHRISTIANSON, C. M. FARMER HOLDREGE ERICKSON, CHARLES G. FARMER HOLDREGE HANSON. C. A. FARMER HOLDREGE HEDELL, C. G. FARMER HOLDREGE KRONQUIST, NILS FARMER HOLDREGE LINDBLOM, JOHN FARMER HOLDREGE OLSON, J. P. FARMER HOLDREGE POWELL, J. Y. FARMER HOLDREGE RASMUSSSEN, R. P. FARMER HOLDREGE ROUSTROM, S. N. FARMER HOLDREGE STENNETT, GEORGE FARMER & STOCKMAN HOLDREGE
GARFIELD TOWNSHIP, PHELPS, COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE CARLSON, C. FARMER BERTRAND CARLSON, L. A. FARMER BERTRAND HENDRICKSON, A. J. FARMER BERTRAND LARSON, P. E. FARMER BERTRAND MALM, J. A. FARMER BERTRAND PETERSON, AUGUST FARMER BERTRAND SAND, JOHN FARMER BERTRAND SMYTH, W. A. FARMER BERTRAND WARREN, AUGUST P. FARMER BERTRAND
WESTSIDE TOWNSHIP, PHELPS COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE ANDERSON, P. A. FARMER BERTRAND BOYER, D. F. FARMER OVERTON BENSON, SWAN H. FARMER BERTRAND BONSER, EDWARD FARMER BERTRAND CARSON, JOHN O. FARMER BERTRAND ISAACSON, JONAS P. FARMER BERTRAND JOHNSON, C. FARMER WILLIAMSBURG JOHNSON, C. J. FARMER BERTRAND JOHNSON, N.A. FARMER BERTRAND LEWIS, NILS FARMER BERTRAND LOOMIS, C. M. FARMER & STOCKMAN BERTRAND LUTE, G. D. FARMER WILIAMSBURG NELSON, JOHN A. FARMER BERTRAND NORDENSTAM, C. M. FARMER BERTRAND PETERSON, C. O. FARMER BERTRAND PETERSON, h. A. FARMER OVERTON SHELLY, JOSEPH FARMER BERTRAND
WESTMARK TOWNSHIP, PHELPS COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE BLOMQUIST, A. FARMER PHELPS BRODIN, P. A. FARMER WESTMARK ERICKSON J. P. FARMER PHELPS GIERENS T. FARMER PHELPS JOHNSON, ANDREW FARMER WESTMARK JOHNSON, J. FARMER PHELPS LYON, CHARLES A. FARMER PHELPS MONSON, D. F. FARMER PHELPS NORDSTROM, E. W. FARMER LOOMIS SALGREN, JOHN S. FARMER AND PORK MEAT PHELPS SWANBERG, C. J. FARMER LOOMIS
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, PHELPS COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE ANDERSON, NELS FARMER FUNK ARNOLD, J. E. FARMER & PORK MEAT HAYDON DAVIS WM. FARMER HAYDON GILBERT, J. C. FARMER HAYDON GILBERT, S. ALICE TEACHER HAYDON HALLOWELL, F. M. LAWYER KEARNEY HAMMOND, WM. FARMER HAYDON HAYDON, E. MERCHANT KEARNEY HOFFERT ANTON FARMER AXTELL IMEL, H. F. FARMER HAYDON LARSON, C. V. FARMER FUNK LINDGREN, A. FARMER HAYDON NELSON, N. O. FARMER AXTELL PETERSON, A. FARMER HAYDON PETERSON, JONAS FARMER FUNK STRIDBORG, J. A. FARMER HAYDON WESTRING, JONAS FARMER FUNK
WILLIAMSBURG TOWNSHIP, PHELPS COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE ELIASON, PETER FARMER WESTMARK HOLM, JOHN FARMER WILLIAMSBURG JACOBSON, G. FARMER FRASER JOCOBSON, S. J. FARMER WILLIAMSBURG LARSON, E. M. FARMER WILLIAMSBURG LESKEY, HENRY FARMER WILLIAMSBURG MARSHALL, A. FARMER WILLIAMSBURG NELSON, CHARLES J. FARMER WILLIAMSBURG PETERSON, JOHN N. FARMER WESTMARK SCHALLHASE, W. A. FARMER OVERTON TRIMBLE, A. J. FARMER WILIAMSBURG VAUGHAN, A. J. FARMER WESTMARK
UNION TOWNSHIP, PHELPS COUNTY, NE
NAME OCCUPATION POST OFFICE DALGARN, MRS. A. G. TEACHER BERTRAND FERGUSON, GEORGE E. FARMER BERTRAND FERDERICKSON. L. P. FARMER LOOMIS GAINFORTH, J. R. FARMER BERTRAND GAINFORTH, T. FARMER LOOMIS GETTY, JAMES FARMER URBANA HATFIELD, J. B. FARMER LOOMIS KILPATRICK, JOHN FARMER LOOMIS MASTERS, I. A. FARMER LOOMIS
JOHNSON'S STORE NEWS
Holdrege, Nebraska
May 1924 Volume VIII, No 5
LIFE in the '70's
As I am sitting here at the table this beautiful winter night, my memory goes back to a story that my mother used to tell, of one of the early pioneers who once lived near.
This takes us back to the early Seventies, when the white men were scarce in this country, and what were here had settled close to the creeks and rivers.
These particular settlers whom I want to speak of settled by a small creek close to a small spring, which is there to this day.
They built their house in a side of the hill facing the south; partly a dug out and the rest of sod.
Along this stream it seemed the Indians traveled back and forth, following it to its head.
It came close to another stream where they would cross over to go down it. These pioneers had began I to get used to these Indians but there was always a horror of an Indian, after the sun went down; for many a white man and wife and children had been killed and scalped, on these prairies after the sun went down.
It was one day in the early spring when the husband had gone away to get provisions for the family, and had left the faithful wife and children at home to look after their few belongings.
The wind had blown this day the sky was dark with dust the good wife had done the chores and the little ones had said their prayers, and had gone to sleep, and the mother sitting with her knitting; thinking of her husband, when all at once her knitting stopped, she listened. What was it! A sound of footsteps! Who could it be? Ah! she says, "It's the Indians."
The footsteps went around the home, but the window blinds were down, the candle light didn't show. But what now, a knock on the door, a gruff voice she heard Oh! Oh'. what must I do.
The knock became louder, the door cracked, but it was still on the hinges and the latch was still fastened. The thought came. to her: it meant death if she didn't open this door, as they might set the house on fire, and if she did open it she might give them something to get them away.
So, with the courage that a pioneer had she bravely walked to the door; she unfastened. the latch; she opened the door. There stood a big Indian chief, trimmed in feathers and clothed in buffalo skins.
She says, "What do you want?" Now these Indians were just back from a fierce war with the Pawnees, and were in an ugly mood.
He said in a gruff voice, "Me big Ingun, Me Chief Buffalo; me got lots of Inguns out here Inguns hungry; now give us to eat. We kill you We take your scalp. His knife in his hand She says to him, showing no fear: "Take one of the cows if you will go awayö. He muttered a few words to himself and left. There seemed to be a hundred out in the dark.
So she closed the door, and pushed the latch, and went over to the little ones in bed, who knew nothing of the danger just passed..
She knelt there beside the bed, to pray for their lives, as no one. knew what these treacherous Indians would do.
She arose from her prayer and sitting down on the foot of the bed her hand over her eyes, sobbing, sobbing, she fell asleep, and the night passed on, the wind blew, the coyotes yelled, the Indians hollered, but she heard
nothing. When all at once she awoke, the sun was coming up. What a joy to her heart, she rushed to the window. She gazed up the creek. She could see
Indians by the hundreds. They had killed the cow, 0ld
Star," the best cow they had. They were cutting and eating the meat and looked like they were preparing to leave.
She mourned for their cow but they didn't have. many, but the cow had probably saved their lives.
She kept a close watch through the window and what joy came to her when she saw the Indians had begun to leave, and they would soon be gone, and Hubby would soon be home with provisions and to see his wife and children again.
W. F. ROBINSON, Atlanta, Nebr.
More Excerpts From the March 1, 1887
Nebraska Nugget
THE BOOMING WEST
PHELPS COUNTY, NEBRASKA
HOLDREGE
The Capital City.
Her Business Men; Her Magical Growth;
Her Railroads; Her Industries, and Our
Prophecy of Her Great Future.
G.H. BARNES
Located in Holdrege in 1885, and opened a real estate, loan and insurance office, since which time he has purchased a home and become a permanent resident. His business is satisfactory, and he is rapidly gaining the confidence of the people.
YALE BROTHERS
These gentlemen came to our city in October, 1886, and established a windmill and pump business on East avenue. Their trade has increased to such proportions in the last few months that hey have concluded to become permanent residents of Holdrege, and are making extensive preparations for their spring trade, having ordered a car load of the celebrated "Dempster" windmills, which they expect to arrive about March 1st. This self-regulating solid-wheel windmill in the state. It is manufactured at Beatrice, Nebraska and is a substantial, first-class machine in every particular, regulating as smooth and evenly in a heavy gale as in a light wind. The workmanship is of the best, and it is finished in an elegant manner, which makes it a handsome as well as a useful machine. They also carry a full stock of wood and iron pumps, galvanized and iron pipe, pipe fittings, etc. Their prices are as low as the lowest, and it would be to your interest to call and see them, examine their goods and get their prices before purchasing elsewhere. These gentlemen came form Beatrice here, but were formerly residents of Knox county, Illinois.
E. B. GARD, JR.,
The new harness maker on East avenue, commenced business on the first on January, 1887 and finds his trade very good. has a full stock of goods of the best quality, consisting of harness, heavy and light, and keeps the best out wool-faced collars, for which he is sole agent. He keeps as fine an assortment of buggy whips as ever brought to this county. Also saddles, riding bridles, brushes, currycombs and everything in the harness line. Repairing done with neatness and dispatch, and ordered work a speciality. He is a thorough workman in every respect, having had fourteen years experience. All parties wishing anything in the harness line will be well treated. Go and examine his good and be convinced.
D. STULKEN
Was not the first one in Holdrege; one or two houses were ahead, but he was the first one to bring his family here. He has been busy making and repairing boots and shoes, and makes the best fitting and most durable boots and shoes that it has been our good fortune to wear. He has all the skill and qualifications for managing a large boot and hose manufactory, and Holdrege is the place for it.
FREDERICKS & ENGSTROM
This firm deals in groceries, queensware and fruits. They carry a very large stock and do an extensive business. The firm established business in Holdrege in 1884 and has been compelled to enlarge their building from time to time until it now covers the entire lot with is 140 feet deep.
FINE STOCK FARM
Mr. A. Wichstrom, one of the leading citizens of Phelps county has embarked in the fine stock business and is leading the celebrated Percheron Norman horses shorthorn and Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs. His stock farm is less than a mile from Holdrege but at present Mr. Wiskstrom lives on his large farm eight miles east. One of this recent purchases was a full blooded Percheron stallion and a mare of the same breed at a cost of $2000. This will be the thing for the stock men of our growing county.
THE PHOTOGRAPH CAR
Mrs. M. J. Wyatt, our popular artist, has been in the photography business for sixteen years. She was formerly of Roseville, Warren County, Ill. Her traveling was the first one in this county. She is favorly known among nearly all of the old settlers and her work has always given satisfaction.
She has gained a very flattering reputation as one of the finest artists in the county and her business is increasing to such and extent that the car is insufficient for her extensive work. She will erect a commodions art gallery in the near future and furnish it with all modern improvements.
~Harlan County Nebraska~
NOTE: The Phelps Helps Newsletter highlights Harlan County Nebraska in this section. With many of our subscribers interested in and from Harlan County, and since Harlan County is a connecting county to Phelps County, the Phelps Helps will carry a page of history information on Harlan County.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Atlanta, NE
United Methodist Church
Book 1885-1985
THE YOKEING OF EAST HIGHLAND AND ATLANTA EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
Dick Dyas's great grandmother, Mary Jane Dyas, started a Union Sunday school in a sod school house in Albany Township in Harlan Co.. Following her death in March of 1891, the Sunday school was taken over by the Methodist Episcopal Church and shortly thereafter preaching was added.
Our church and East Highland were almost always linked together. Both churches were built about the same time and the central treasury and membership was kept by the Atlanta church.
East Highland Church was built and dedicated in 1908.
This news article appeared in the Holdrege Daily Citizen in November, 1908:
Sunday Nov. 22 was a great day in the history of East Highland, a Community about 7 miles southeast of Atlanta. About a year and a half ago the Rev. John Thomas organized a Sunday School at this place, which grew and prospered and about a year ago the pastor of the M. E. church of Atlanta held a successful revival meeting there and organized a Methodist Class. The building in which the services were held was too small to accommodate the people who came and in August, although there was almost a complete crop failure, it was decided to build a church. Building and soliciting committees were selected and $1500 was soon raised on subscription and the work begun. All worked with a will and the church went rapidly forward.
The church is 26 by 38 feet with vestibule. It has an inclined floor, seated with fine oak pews and is heated with a furnace. A bell calls the people to worship.
At 10:30 a.m. Sunday the house was filled. Chancellor Davidson of the Nebr. Wesleyan University preached an inspiring sermon on "The Divinity of Christ." It was found $300 was needed to dedicate the church free of debt. Although the people had given liberally, they responded nobly to the call and nearly $400 was subscribed and the church dedicated. All are highly pleased with their neat little church.
~ East Highland Church ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A CONVERSATION WITH LES AND BES BAKER
In the summer of 1983 Les and Bess Baker visited with Sandra and Bob Slater about East Highland Church. They joined the East Highland Church on July 5, 1909 and later when this church closed it joined Atlanta Episcopal Church. Below is some of the history that they remember about the East Highland Church:
Before the East Highland Church was built, church services were held in the school house. One Sunday in 1891, a new minister was to preach at the school, which in the early years was a sod building. This was the first Sunday Pastor A. A. King was to preach and he was very concerned the congregation wouldn't accept him because he had not had the schooling most ministers had and he was not ordained.
When the congregation arrived at the school, they found that the corner of the building had caved in and there was dirt all over everything. They wiped off the teachers desk. The preacher used this as a pulpit. The congregation was sure that the minister would leave and not come back because of the condition of the school. But both the congregation and pastor worried needlessly for they were both very happy with each other.
In the early years, the church couldn't always get a minister so Les and Bess remember going to Bethel or to Mascot to church.
In 1908 the East Highland church was built just east of where the Bakers now live. This is township 4, section 10 of Harlan Co.. The school was on the east and the church on the west. The decision was made that the church would be called Highland because it was built on high land and because there was already a church called Highland, it was called East Highland.
The church always had afternoon services because this was still horse and buggy days, the minister couldn't preach at Atlanta and their church in the same morning. At one time they also had some evening meetings.
Les and Bess's father was superintendent of the Sunday School and was on the church board. Since there was a central treasury all church money was to go thru the Atlanta treasury. One time Will Snodgrass gave $5 to the minister personally to keep. Although the minister did inform Atlanta of this, had feelings were caused on both sides because it did not go thru the treasury.
There was no vacation bible school in the early years but one Sunday in May was called Childrens Day. The children presented a program and the girls all dressed in their white dresses. The children always looked forward to this day.
They also had Sunday school convention with the churches of Carter, Mascot and Bethel.
The East Highland had no kitchen but every summer they would have an Ice Cream Social. One time they had the social at the McNeices farm and it was also held at the Baker home.
Mr. Baker was helping the young ones make ice cream at one of these socials. After taking the paddles out the youngsters would sample the ice cream. They thought that Mr. Baker would probably tell on them but he promised them he wouldn't tell if they would give him a sample of the ice cream also.
In later years East Highland had trouble keeping up with the financial responsibilities of the church. The
Bakers remember their father receiving a letter from an
Atlanta member stating that when conference time arrived, Atlanta would have to share in their disgrace because Highland was unable to pay it's part. Luckily, this did not discourage the Bakers from joining the Atlanta Church after their church was closed.
There were occasional services there until the early 1920's. In 1927 the church was torn down with the lumber being used to build an annex to the Atlanta Episcopal Church.
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