J. O. Shannon,		1869    1871.
C. A. Speice,		1871    1877.

  First settlers in Platte county--Isaac Albertson and E. W. Toncray; first house built--Old Company house on Brewery Block 178; first store kept--Becher's, in the cabin still standing opposite Kummer's residence, unless Kummer's little chebang on the river bank could be called a store; first postmaster, John Rickly--so on after Becher for seven years; first mail came July 4th, 1857, during a celebration--Hewitt, orator--had a military parade and a turkey stuffed with dried applies--consequence a bursted turkey. On that day passed through Warren's Exploring Expedition to the unknown West. First boy brought into the county, Jacob Ernst, Jr.; first girl brought into the county, Rosa Rickly; first boy born in the county, Lewis Erb, on Shell Creek; first girl born in the county, Mary Wolfel, Columbus; first wedding, John Will and Marie Rickert; that is, this was the first infantry wed-

  This will include all the agricultural, pastoral and commercial interests of the county, and such public works as have a bearing chiefly on these.
  During the first ten years, from 1856 to 1866, but little attention was given to agriculture, except in a small way, along the emigrant road, to meet a demand of the travelling public. Every man who lived on that road had his market at his own door. But Fort Kearney, 110 miles west, garrisoned by U. S. soldiers, was a good market for corn, oats, beans and potatoes, for such persons as lived off the road, and many a load did Murray, Senecal, Reinke, and others sell to advantage at that place. Some devoted themselves to cattle and

Passenger business - - - - -  $ 1,157 95
Freight received, - - - - - -   8,897 57
Express, - - - - - - - - - - -    482 30
			      __________
			      $10,537 82

Exports in pounds, - - - -     3,436,102
Imports  "     "   - - - -     1,710,218
			       _________
  Excess of exports, - - -     1,725,884

  Of these we can make no boast. In 1857 the mammoth mill of Rickly & Co., was erected and for some time was emphatically the institution of the county. It was a saw mill, corn grist mill, lath and shingle mill and propelled by steam.
  In 1868 a steam flour mill was built by F. A. Hoffman, but unfortunately the foundations of the boiler and engine which were located in a very deep basement sank in the quicksand and in 1869 the mill was abandoned. Becker's mill on Shell creek then came into play, and has been in successful operation ever since, its business amounting in 1875 to $20,000.
  On the fourth of June 1873, Charles Schroeder opened his foundry and carriage manufactory, and in 1875 his feed mill--improvements in the right direction and highly useful.
  Last year also came into existence the broom factory of Friedtag & Bro. and at this writing the plaining machine of H. L. Cole is in process of construction.
  Ever since 1858, Franz Hengeller, of Shell creek has been making Swiss cheese. His business has grown from about 10 lbs per day the first year to about 50 lbs per day for several years past and up to the present time.
  If we now include the boot and shoe shops, harness shops, and tin shops of Columbus, all is told of our manufactures. But all is not predicted: for

  Under the head of physical development, properly come such public improvements as directly affect the growth of business. For the value and the desirability of all the real estate depend largely on the extent of population and trade in the commercial town or towns of any country. With a wise reference to this the county has cordially united with the town in the preparation of the high ways and all the streams of the county including the Loup and Platte rivers have been bridged. The county has about 6,000 feet of substantial bridges and these have made Columbus the chief commercial centre of all Central Nebraska. This has given to the farmers the advantages of advanced prices for produce and reduced prices for goods, by stimulating emulation as well as securing variety and extent of commerce, and so the whole county is reaping the profits while it enjoys the honor of this large and liberal policy.
  In July 1871, Leander Gerrard and Julius A. Reed opened a Bank in the North side town. In May 1874, Abner Turner and Geo. W. Hulst opened another on the South side. In August 1875 these two private companies organized under the name of the Columbus State Bank--with a Capital of $50,000. Leander Gerrard, President; Abner Turner, Cashier. The business is conducted in the fine brick building of Turner & Hulst opposite the Depot. The Bank is one of the most flourishing in the state.

  Under this head manifestly come all the means and appliances of mental, social and moral culture.
  First in fact and first in importance are our schools--secular and sacred. On this subject we have no mean record. The first item is the minute of a public school meeting held March 5th 1860 in the American Hotel, at which J. Rickly, M. Weaver and G. W. Stevens were elected a school board. On the 10th these three drew lots for the short, middle and long term of office and took the oath of office, the jurat of which is in these words:
  "Sworn to and subscribed in the present of each other," showing how scrupulously conscientious men were in those pure primitive days: when they could swear to no greater they swore to themselves.
  The first enumeration was made in October 1860--showing 46 males and 20 females of which whole number 35 were east of the Meridian and 31 west of it. On the 10th of Dec. 1860, the town board made a present of the old Company house to the district for a school house. It was that same log house with grass roof of which I have spoken and which stood on the Bremer Brewery Block. Its educational honors were brief, for on the 23rd of March following it was sold to Chas. A. Speice for $20.25 and at a later date converted to stovewood. The first school order ever drawn was to G. W. Stevens for $67.45 for teaching at $1 per day.
  The school records of these days bring but few names to the surface. The reason is plain. For reasons best known to themselves, Becker, Stillman, Guter, Browner, Reinke and others were in these days a set of incorrigible bachelors, though in later times they repented and are now bringing forth

  1. Free Masons--Lebanon Lodge No.

  There is another department of our history which I will dignify with the title of military. For we have had our little "wars and rumors of wars."
  The memorable words of Logan the eloquent chief--Know, O white man, that there is enmity between me and thee--have been the standing motto of all Redmen.
  The Pawnees were never at any time, the avowed and open enemy of the white man of Nebraska. But in the early day when they were strong and we were weak, they begged and stole, insulted and threatened, until their insolvence become insufferable, and the Governor of the Territory called upon the militia to chastise them. Platte county furnished more than 50 of the little army of 300 that pursued the fugitive tribe and overtook them at a creek afterward called Battle Creek, in memory of the event. Without a battle however, the Reds succumbed, and were permitted, on promise of good

  I close this sketch with a few words in behalf of Platte county as an inviting field for immigration and investment. Like the most of Eastern Nebraska, the whole county, without exceptions, combines in an eminent degree all the qualities of a good agricultural and pastoral country. In its natural state it was one vast plat of nutricious grass--pasture and meadow. At this date about half its square miles are occupied by actual settlers, there being from one to eight families on a square mile. A large portion belongs to different railroad companies and non-resident speculators, and is held for sale at prices from $3.00 to $8.00 per acre. A small quantity yet belongs to Uncle Sam and is subject to settlement under the Homestead Laws.
  The experiments of the last few years show how well adapted our deep, rich moist loam is to the culture of corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sorghum, broom-corn, hemp, flax, and all root crops. But we are too far from the head of market to make the exportation of these commodities profitable, until, from some cause, the rates of transportation shall have been greatly reduced. Hence our people are turning their thoughts to live stock, and especially to sheep, as the true business of this country.
  We have not yet quite come to the live-stock or the home manufacturing era; but it is near. We have the soil to produce and the water power to work up the materials of such valuable goods