PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

1877 NEWS Republished in 1900

Published in The Journal on January 3, 1900 - "Many Years Ago"
Our account this week begins with June 15, 1877 and ends with July 4, 1877.

W.A. Clark suffered an operation for cancer.

Martin Stenger, jr., died at Mr. Pleasant, Iowa, June 22, 1877.

Silas H. Tucker was justice of the peace of Creston precinct.

Thomas Flynn & Son advertised brick for sale at $10 a thousand at the kiln.

In June 1877, Allie Rickly was for the second time under medical treatment at Omaha.

Eugene Durr was put under bonds to answer the charge of shooting at John McMahon.

John T. Mallalieu was sales agent in Columbus for Wanamaker & Brown of Philadelphia.

Married, June 17, at the residence of G. W. Shaffer, George P. Jackson and Miss Anna E. Smith.

David Anderson purchased 100 head of stock to be driven to Sioux City and fattened for the Indian market.

Martin Bohen, Dul Holloral and John Gogan, as directors, advertised for proposals for a school house in district No. 18.

Mike Welch, as mail carrier, had to go seven or eight miles further than he ought because of the absence of certain bridges in Bismark precinct.

Occidental Lodge No. 21, K. P. officers were: J. A. Baker, L. F. Ellis, J. W. Martin, O. H. Archer, W. N. Hensley, W. H. Winterbotham, J. W. Early.

Officers selected for Wildey Lodge 44, I.O.O.F., were: N.G., John G. Routson; V.G.; John Stauffer; R.S., John Schram; Grand Representative, C.A. Speice.

John E. Elliott wrote from South Glastonbury, Connecticut, while on a visit, speaking of seeing Mrs. Fifield, then a teacher here, who was visiting friends.

Albert Thomas, a lad about 12 years old, attending school near Savannah, Butler county, went to bathe in a creek near the school house and was drowned June 29.

Among the graduates from the State university at Lincoln Wednesday, June 27, was the name of William A. McAllister, who received the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Columbus markets June 13, 1877, wheat $1.30, corn 40-60c, oats 35-45c, butter 10-11 1/2c, eggs 8-10c, potatoes $1.00-$1.25, fat hogs $3.00-$3.25, fat cattle $3.50-$4.00.

John Schram as city clerk notified property holders to build sidewalks along certain lots, "of lumber two inches in thickness, on stringers four by four, and not less than six feet in width, the grade to be established by the city engineer."

Married, June 11, 1877, by Judge Higgins, after Friends' ceremony, Charles Hill of Santee agency and Miss Mary Webster of Monroe. On June 12, by Rev. H. N. Cook, Rev. Daniel Shank of Butler county and Mrs. Hannah C. Thomas of Columbus.

John, son of Judge Riley of Boone county, met an untimely death while attempting to cross a deep ravine on the public road near Boone post office on his way home from Columbus. The ravine at the time was a raging, angry, turbid stream, at least 15 feet deep. He was about half way across when he was thrown from his horse, and the force of the current carried him under.

In 1877, Silas Garber was governor; George B. Lake, chief justice, Daniel Gantt and Samuel Maxwell, associate judges of the supreme court; G. W. Post of York, judge of this fourth district; M. B. Reese of Wahoo, district attorney; R. H. Henry was one of the county commissioners; C. A. Speice, superintendent of schools of the county, and also mayor. The city council were: J. E. North and Charles Schroeder for the First ward; E. C. Kavanaugh and C. E. Morse for the Second, E. A. Gerrard and Joseph Gross for the Third.

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Published in The Journal on January 10, 1900 - "Many Years Ago"
Our account this week begins with July 11, 1877 and ends with August 15, 1877.

George Scott bought Clothers' livery.

James Hudson came down from the Black Hills.

Born, Tuesday, July 10, to Mrs. C. A. Speice, a daughter.

Married, July 4, 1877, by Rev. J. A. Hood, John Losco and Miss Sarah Barnum.

Willard Chapin returned home from the Black Hills, and reported many there out of employment.

A son of Henry Lusche of Shell creek was bitten by a rattlesnake. Dr. Stillman prescribed for him.

Married, July 8, at St. John's Catholic church, by Rev. Father Ryan, Michael Welch and Miss Anna Noon.

Pat. Griffin, J. Rasmussen, George Clark, Dan Ryan and John Haney won the volunteer purses at the races July 4, '77.

During the week ending July 7, 1877, the thermometer frequently reached 102 in the shade, and "people perspired profusely."

Married, Wednesday, August 6, 1877, by Judge J. G. Higgins, at the residence of Wm. Leach, Arthur M. Jennings and Miss Sarah J. Robinson.

In an election of officers of the G.A.R., post we note the names of John Hammond, A. M. Jennings, Gus Lockner, J. W. Early, D. D. Wadsworth, A. J. McKelvey, D. N. Miner and Edward Clark.

Mrs. Monette and Mrs. Slattery were riding in the country; the seat of the buggy was not stationary, and upon whipping up the team they started with such a sudden jerk as to precipitate both ladies backward to the ground. Both were more or less bruised, Mrs. Monette being rendered insensible for some time.

July 5, Daniel Foley was found dead on the farm of C. A. Davis north of Pat. Murray's on the bluff. Pat. Murphy, John Lucid, Michael Upton, Ed. Welch, David O'Brien and Daniel Ryan were Coroner Heintz' jury. Mr. Foley doubtless realizing that his end was near, had in the darkness of the night, unhitched his horses from the wagon and allowed them to go loose. He had lost his way and was found in his wagon lying on his back. The wagon was off the road in a ravine. The horses reached John Maher's on the morning of July 5.

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Published in The Journal on January 17, 1900 - "Many Years Ago"
Our account this week begins with August 15, 1877 and ends with September 26, 1877.

Milton Brown returned from the Black Hills.

Born, Sept. 4, to Mrs. Washington Fulton, a daughter.

A telephone line was put up between Seward and York.

Miss Serena Olson attended the State Normal school at Peru.

George Fairchild returned from the Black Hills Sept. 9, 1877

Charles Morse, Joe Tiffany and George Willard went off after horses.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Speice returned August 17, from the Black Hills.

Died, Sept. 5, Nellie, daughter of David and Mary E. Anderson, aged 19 years.

F.H. Gerrard disposed of the York Republican and purchased the Madison Review.

Married, Sept. 7, 1877, by Rev. C.G.A. Hullhorst, G.A. Schroeder and Miss Ida Hagel.

Married, August 25, by Rev. Henry Shaw, C.D. Rakestraw and Miss Josephine Bremer.

John W. Witchey, Mrs. M. Keller and her son Jeremiah returned home from the Black Hills.

Married, August 16, 1877, by Judge J. G. Higgins, Frederick W. Ott and Miss Erdmuthe W. Schroeder.

Henry Carrig reported the wheat in his neighborhood that had been threshed as going twenty-five bushels to the acre.

Carl Reinke reported that he had raised as high as 38 1/2 bushels of wheat to the acres, and two years 85 bushels of corn to the acre.

Miss Gilbert assisted Mrs. Fifield, teaching in District No. 13. Prof. Cramer, Mrs. Ballou and Miss Crites were teachers in District No. 1.

Charles Davis arrived safe from the Black Hills August 18, As a rule, he says that the placer diggings do not pay; stamp hills he thinks will be made to pay.

The editor took two days south with Uncle Sam's mail carrier, H.H. Ames, making jottings by the way, and afterwards writing a column and a half article for JOURNAL readers of that time. Guy C. Barnum was making extensive improvements at his place; likewise Capt. A. Haight, on the Island. Messrs. Kinsman, Swearinger, J. H. Herron, R. Miller, David Redpath, Ghrodia Stull and S.N.Wendelboe were mentioned. Among the business men of Osceola were: Capt. Louger, J.C. McWilliams, Beaty & Woods, L.W. McCarty, Henry Mahan, L.L. Snider, L.J. Blowers, W. F. Kimmel, Leonard Horst, Wm. Pheasant, J.A. Wood, A.N. Jay, W.H. Sunderland, Saml. Woods, O.H. Pulver, J.T. Bonner, L. Belzer, Owen Wilson, James Matthews, I.W. McCarty, W.H. Mills. S. F. Fleharty was editor of the Records, a man whose iintegrity, truthfulness and discriminating judgment were evidenced in every number of his excellent paper. A. Nance was so popular that in an election in Polk county he had received 541 votes with only 7 ballots cast against him.

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Published in The Columbus Journal on Wed., November 16, 1910, pg. 1, col. 1 - "Many Years Ago"
Files of the Journal, November 21, 1877
It is said one of the officials of the city who, at the time of the earthquake shock, was in the banking building, proposed to his companions that it was time to pray. This, however, he denies, as he has not prayed any for three years.

On Thursday last, 11:35, two distinct waves of earthquake, with numerous tremors, were felt here, lasting, according to our estimate, about 30 seconds. The "sensation" was a thorough one. Everybody was "moved," though all were not conscious of it, and some few for a while were very incredulous. The motion, some affirm, was from southeast to northwest, others who noticed the vibrations of hanging articles, say it was north and south. The two story brick houses in the city were more perceptibly affected than others. At the brick school in district number one, the walls were cracked from the foundation up in two places, and the school children so thoroughly frightened that they rushed out of the building and could not be persuaded to re-enter it. School was dismissed for the day. A. W. Crites, whose office is in the second story of the bank building, says that he doesn't wish to be invited out to another such matinee. He could hear the grinding of the mortar and Chas. Wake, who was in the same building, declares he could see the walls move. Similar sensations were experienced at the court house, and the wall was cracked in one place. Some fear is expressed that the school house will not be safe for occupancy in a storm of wind; the damage to the court house is so slight as not to create any apprehension. Two other buildings in the city were perceptibly injured, though some of the frame ones creaked and swayed considerably. There is no telling what would have been the result if the shocks had been continued another time or two. As it was, most of our people had a slight experience of an earthquake with consequences which often attend them.

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Published in The Journal on January 24, 1900 - "Many Years Ago"
Our account this week begins with September 26, 1877 and ends with November 28, 1877.

Died, November 3, 1877, George E. Drake.

Jonas Welch was appointed postmaster as Shell creek.

Wednesday, September 19, 1877, the railroad was completed to David City.

Nick Blaser took a contract to build a large barn for Carl Reinke on his farm.

Jacob Binney lost a daughter eight years old from the effects of a prairie fire.

September 25, Orlando Rose lost two good stacks of wheat, struck by lightening.

D. Schupbach and G.A. Schroeder opened a hardware store on Eleventh street.

Married, at Troy, Pennsylvania, Oct. 23, 1877, M. Whitmoyer of this city to Miss Emma A. Peckham.

E.R. Bisson finished the erection of a neat residence on his farm, C. H. Young doing the carpenter work.

Gus G. Becher was promptly paying losses by fire, where they held policies in companies represented by him.

John Eggner was buying wheat for J.C. Morrissey at David City and Gus. Krause was doing inside work.

Miss Mary Turner accompanied A.J. Sampson and family to their home in Denver, to remain with them several years.

Married, Nov. 20, at the Farmers' Home, by Judge Higgins, Cecil Owens of Madison county and Miss Ella B. Snyder of Platte county.

Married, Sept. 18, at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Case of St. Edward, by Rev. S. P. Bollman, Jasper N. Heater and Miss Anna E. Case.

Married, Oct. 16, by George W. Shaffer, justice of the peace, at his office in Lost Creek precinct, Luther V. Chapin to Miss Lucy Kelton; on the same day, by the same, John S. Wood to Miss Rhoda Chapin.

A prairie fire northeast of town Oct. 8, destroyed hay for Messrs. Reed, Griffin, Stenger, Reagan and Crites, a lot of corn for Dan Sheedy and it was only by the hardest work that Sheedy's house and wheat stacks were saved.

Thursday, Nov. 15, 1877 at 11:35 a.m., two distinct waves of earthquake, with numerous tremors were felt here, lasting, according to our estimate, about 30 seconds. At the brick schoolhouse in district no. 1 the walls were cracked in two places, from the foundation up, and the school children so thoroughly frightened that they rushed out of the building and could not be persuaded to re-enter it. School was dismissed for the day. A Crites, whose office was in the second story of the Columbus State Bank building, said he didn't wish to be invited out to another such matinee. He could hear the grinding of the mortar, and Charles Wake, who was in the same building, declared he could see the walls move. Similar sensations were experienced at the court house, and the wall was cracked in one place.

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