Saunders County NEGenWeb Project
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Summer 1978 NEBRASKA ANCESTREE - Vol 1, No 1, Page 50 From the VALPARAISO (Nebr.) VISITOR, 30 Dec 1897 (Saunders County) Village Officers: R.K. JOHNSON, Chairman of the Board, W. T. CRAVEN, W. P. ALLEN, B.F. SMITH, W.W. TAYLOR; M.B. GIFFEN, Clerk, U.B. CRAVEN, Street Commissioner, Chas. M. COX, Marshall. School Board: J.W. SCOFIELD, President, Wm. BAYS, Sect., R. (K?) JOHNSON, Tress. W.T. CRAVEN, F.W. SMITH, J.D. BUTTERY, Churches: Methodist Episcopal, Rev. NICHOLS, Pastor; Christian, Rev. H.P. SurTON, Pastor; Baptist, Geo. P. WEBER, Supt. (From a sketch of Valparaiso by Ruth Scofield that was read at school) The town site of Valparaiso was platted in 1862. - Andrew JOHNSON and his family were the first settlers. James CRAIG homesteaded the land on which Valapraiso stands. In the winter of (18)71 and 72 J.K. VANDEMARK taught school. He had sixty-three scholars, most of whom came from where Agnew is now located. Andrew JOHNSON was the first Postmaster and received a salary of fifteen dollars for the first year. Mr. VANDEMARK sent the first private message over the telegraph to Valparaiso. The railroad was built in 1877 and the first newspaper, the AVALANCE, was established that year with Sam WEED as editor. Also listed in the article as residents of Valparaiso at that time (1897): Mr. DECKER, Mr. GILES, Lem GLASSBURN, Ed JOHNSON. From the Valparaiso School Notes: principal GRAHAM was presented with a beautiful paper holder by his students. Miss Bertha PINNEY severed her connection with the school as teacher of Room 2. She was married the previous week. John HUDKINS was the proprietor of the Star and Checkered Livery Barns. Submitted by Lesta McAlpine Westmore (Mrs. J.B.), Omaha, NE