Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, April 18, 1909, Page 19

JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT HOUSH. OME years ago a man drove a prairle schooner out into Jof- ferson county. His was an ex- ploitation and colonization project. Other men, hundreds & of them, followed In his wheel track and the raflroad crept slowly on thelr trall and Jefferson county was promoted. The winning of the west was on its way. There was trouble all along the line, toil and sweating of blood. But with all, the gAln was greater than the loss and Jeffer- #on county was developed. Jefforson county Is passing through its fourth distinet period. First came the Hudson Bay Pur company, and through the trapper and trader this was a fur age. Then the buffalo was the central figure for forty years. The prairle schooner and the homesteader formed the third epoch in Jefferson county's history. And now, in this good yeat 100, the dollar sign is stamped Indellbly on every quarter section of Nebraska. This will be recorded in his- tory ae the money age. The homesteader who was formerly the homemaker, Is now the dollarmaker. There 1§ nothing which does not resolve itself into the test of the coin. There is no risk”money has not un- dertaken, no result it has not attained, no luxury it has not conferred. All that is of vital interest today on the western prairie is measured by money. Jefferson county was first set apart by the territorial legislature January 2, 1856, under the name of Jones county. Thayer, Joining the county on the west, was desiz- nated as Jefferson at the same time, In 1864 Jetferson county organized by holding its first election at Big Sandy. February 18, 1507, an act to enlarge Jefferson county passed the legislature, which united Jones county to Jefferson. In 1871 an act was passed providing for the division of Jof- ferson, which was effected in the fall by the election of two sets of officers. The former, Jones county, by separation, be- came Jofferson, and the former, Jefferson, assumed the name of Thayer. From 187 to 1864 Jefferson was attached to Gage county for judiclary purposes. It is belleved by many that Coronado, the Spanlard, in 1541 and 1542, after leaving the Gila river and crossing the Rocky mountains, passed down the valley of the Little Blue at least as far as Jofferson county. This is hardly probable, though not impossible. Ome of the routes of the path-finders through the Rocky mountains passed up the valley of the Little Blue and was known as the Bt. Joe route, In 1832 one of the most desperate battles ever waged on the American continent between savage tribos was fought in Jet- ferson county, near the junction of the Big Sandy and the Little Blue rivers, within the borders of the contested hunt- ing ground. Sixteen thousand Indian warriors, it 1s sald, were arrayed in deadly combat for three days' fighting, as only savage men can fight. The Pawnees and thelr allles were arrayed against their deadly foes, the Sioux and their confeder- ate tribes. After a desperate struggle of three days the Sloux were compelled to withdraw with a loss of 3,000 braves. The Pawnees lost 2,00 warriors. This was the Waterloo of the great plain and gave the mastery of the country to the Pawnee nation. This they never relinquished. They became the most warlike and powerful tribe on the plain, & terror to both feebler tribes and early settlers. The principal stream of the county is the Little Blue river, running dlagonally through the county from uorthwest to southeast. It is & beautiful stream and yet more useful than beautiful, furnish- ing abundant water power the year round. About two miles from Fairbury is one spring that furnishes a sufficient flow of water for 4 good and eontinuous water power. Big and Little Sandy creeks water the northwest portion of the county and atford a gocd many mill privileges. Rose creck is @ beautiful stream with numerous branches. The first mill in the county was buflt on this stream. Jefferson county has & fair amount of natural timber scattered up and down its streams. Small frults do well and are very extensively ocultivated. The apple industry capeclally 18 becoming of considerable im- portance. Jefferson county has at present n full bearing 70,000 apple trees, 92,000 peach, 4000 plum and 16,000 cherry trees. In the Russian settlement many mulberry trees were planted and ecultivated princi- pally for the silk worm. In varlous parts the county are quarries of excellent limestone from which & superior quality of lime is made. The surface of Jefferson county ls very rolling along the streams, h become greatly ubdulating as it re- cedes. The surface of the county on the south side of Rose creek is quite hilly and in places broken. Good water abounds in ull parts of the county. The great overland route to the mines from St. Joseph passes dlagonally across Jofferson county. In 1857, soon after the opening of fhe mines in the mountains of Colorado, panchmen beghn to establish themscives Along the trail made by freight- ors and emigrants for the purpose of furnishing supplies to the trains. Every iay brought the ranchmen new customers. The first permanent settlement in the county was made by Deniel Patterson on wh Big Sandy creek, near where it empties into the Little Blue. His days of usefulness in the county were few, as he was the first person to die In the county. But the settle- ment he established was never afterwards deserted, It being one of the two places along the Little Blue that withstood the Indlan raid of 184 The first experiments in agriculture In this county were made at this point. In 1860 & prosperous settlement was formed on the headwaters of Swan creek by a colony of hardy enterprising Germans, all of whom have met with abundant success. That was the year of the memorable drouth. Yet from 1861 to 1863 were seasons of plenty. Ranches and sta- tions all along the old emigrant road be- gan to multiply and traffic Increased rapidly and all were prosperous. In 1864 the county was organized; although there were only thirty-flve actual settlers, they managed to cast seventy-five votes, and it is sald that nearly every citizen held an office. In 1865 the organization of the county was legalized by the legislature and in 1868 the vote of the county was unani- mous for General Grant, The Little Blue, & weekly newspaper es- tablished In 188 by D. C. Jenkins and M. J. Kelly, was the first paper printed In the county. The first mill in the county was bullt on Rose creek, near Thayer county, in 1863 by Rev. Ives Marks. The first ser- mon preaghed in the county was by Rev. Ives Marks of the United Brethren deo- nomination in 1862 In 1867 the grasshop- pers, together with the Indlan trials, caused great suffering to the settlers. The greatest flood known in the county oc- ourred in 180, when the Little Blue and its tributaries reached their highest water :t‘ BARNYARD ON JIM CAMPBELL'S STOCK RANCH, mark. Perhaps the worst calamity that ever visited Jefferson county was the smallpox plague. This commenced in the latter part of January, 1879, and raged for six weeks with great fatality.. Jefferson, Thayer, Nuckolls and Webster counties suf- fered more from Indlans during the early days than anw other part of Nebraska. SBOUTHEAST CORNER OF COURT HOUSH FOUR MILES Jeffersori county is one of the most pros- perous in the state. It Is twenty-four mies square and has a valuation of $3- 85,00, with a population of about 20,000, This glves about $1,700 pér capita. The county has fourteen thrifty, prosperous rallroad towns, and 119 miles of railroads witkin its limits. It also has 783 miles of SOUTHWEST OF FAIRBURY. public highway. Jeéfferson county has 209,000 acres in farms and 197,000 acres under cul- tivation. Last year the county raised 94,00 acres of corn, 41,000 acres of wheat and 28,000 acres of oats. More and more each year it is becoming an alfalfa and tame grass sectlon. The farmers at present have 12,000 acres well seeded to alfalfa. This is BSQUARE, ield and Orchard FATRBURY. one of the banner countles of the state in the production of beef and pork. Last year the farmers sold and shipped out of the county 17,800 head of fat beef cattle and 45,500 of fat hogs, also more than 9,000 head of fat mutton sheep. Besides this, the farmers sold and shipped out of the county 1,400,000 bushels of corn, 646,000 bushels of wheat and 75,00 bushols of oats. Bach year this county 1s paying more and more attention to the dairy industry. The farm- ers are using 083 hand separators and are keeping on thelr farms 10,600 head of cows. Last year these farmers sold and shipped cut of the county 215,000 pounds of butter, 128,000 gallons of cream. The poultry indus- try is becoming of no small sum in the makeup of the farmer's income. Last year they sold and shipped out 79,000 dozen of eggs and over 5,000,000 pounds of poultry. Fairbury, the county seat of Jefferson county, fs located almost exactly In the center of the county on the Little Bluo river, and has a population of about 6,000. The location, lay of land and view of sur- rounding country is all that could be de- sired. The meandering Blue can be traced for many miles up and down the valley, and In the growing months, when the bordering hills are dressed in green, the scenery ir very picturesque and strik- ingly beautiful. The city is active with the every-day business life and it is fast be- coming a state manufacturing point. Thus here as all over this great state, the magle touch of civillzation has changed a wilderness into a paradise as falr as its wide expanse was desolate. The business portion is beginning to assume a solid and attractive appearance. The small frame store buildings, that were the commence- Short Stories Ruined by Swell Soclety. UDGE HOUGH, of the United States ofrcuit court, was dis- clssing, at a legal dinner In New York, a misapprehended law. “This law 1is perhaps ob- scurely worded, at least from a popular point of view,” he said, ~and that, per- haps, & why it is so totally misappre- hendes “The misapprehension of this law re- minds me of a southern millionaire. He came east for his wife's sake and took a Fifth avenue house. There the lady plunged, as madly society would let her, into the soclal amusements of the ason. Toward the season's end she fell 1ll, and a physician, after examining her, reported to her husband: ““Well, Doe, what's the verdict? the southern millionaire inquired, anxiously. “‘Your wife, sir, the doctor answered, “4s suffering, I regret to say, from func- tional derangement.’ “The milllonaire's eyes fllled with tears. “*Doc,’ he sald, ‘I told her she'd go under if she didn't stop gadding about and Chatty w all them by gee, sh be violent? swell functions. And s deranged. 1Is she llable ~New York Press. —— Cleveland’s Love for Children. In the April American Magazine Jesse Lynch Willlams, writing of Grover Cleve- land, says: His love of children was not merely an abstract tenderness for the inherent beauty and pathos of new life; he lked to have them around; he enjoyed watché ing them. And they, with the instinctive trust shown by children and animals to- wards those who really appreciate them, enjoyed being with him Ifked having him around. Sometimes he would spend a whole day gravely mending toys, making wooden blocks for paper soldiers, con- structing water-wheels, The story has already been told of how ‘“The Princton Bird club, composed of professors’ children and others, decided that he was worthy of honorary membership to their body. So one day they assembled especially for the purpode, and solemnly read an address of welcome to the Hon. G. Cleveland,’ who bowed and accepted the honor In & speech now, to Anecdotes of People Prominent in Life which won for him their unqualified appro- bation. “Callers who came quaking into the presence, thinking, perhaps, ‘So this Is the man who guided the ship of state,’ must have been surprised when, for in- stance, Francis, the youngest, a handsome boy of 3 or 4, came romping in never dreaming of fear, and remarked to the former president of thg United States, ‘Hello!! You've go on @& new suit—are those shoes new, teo? " Mr. Cleveland loved youth, he enjoyed having so much of it around him. That was one motive, pernaps, in his chofce of a, college town for bis retiring years. He ltked young people of all ages. He was much pleased when they manifested thelr liking for him. There is no reason why this feeling should not be shown in his own words, addressed to @& 1f-year-old schoolboy at Lawrenceville: PRINCETON, Jan. 8, 1906.—Dear t I want to thank you for the beautiful inkstand you gave me on Christmas and to tell you how much 1 appreciated your remembrance of me. I lke the inkstand better than any I have ever had before: and when you are as old as I am you will know, I am sure, how gratifying it is to feel that there are boys and girls who nk that old are worth remembering. ‘With every good holiday wish I am, Sincerely your friend, “GROVER CLEVELAND." i et The Spirit "’led Him, An old negro preachc: approached a southern physician and offered him a scrap of paper. “Please, sah, to read dat” he sald The physician found it tp be an adver- tiserment in which it was asserted that whisky was the only genuine and reliable specitic for malaria. “But you haven't any malaria, he assured the old man; “none around here at all.” “Whar do dey hab it do wust, Mars' Jeems?' the other then asked, curiously. the physiclan told him, naming a locality A few days later the physician was pass- Ing the old fellow's cabin and observed him climbing upon a rickety wagon piled high with household goods “Moving, Uncle Ned?' he asked. ““Where are you going?” “Mars Jeems," emnly, “Ab, done Uncle,” of It the old man said, sol- had a call; de spirit Annual _EasteriE:;gg fiurithrolié on the HILE Omaha is still several de- cades too young for traditions it has nevertheless some charm- ing old customs among Ite older families that have been observed long enough to give to their annual velebration common Inter- est to ot least two generations. Among thess and one of the most besutiful, is the annual Easter egg hunt given by Miss Anna Crary in the spacious grounds of her home at Twenty-second and Bt. Mary's avenue, One cf the oldest of Omaha's more pretentious homes, the Crary house has beea the sceno of many functions that are memorable in the soclal history of the city, but standing out more conspicuously than any of these, at least in the memory of that set which Is rearing small sons and daughters of its own just now, and many who are still of the “younger set,” are the frolics over the smooth lawn and under the big trees Baster Sunday afternoon. No- where In all Omaha do the bunnies make thelr nests as in Miss Crary’s quaint, beau- tiful yard. Anyone can find the gorgeously colored eggs there, one, two, three and four of them at a time nestled In the grass at the foot of the trees, tucked under the edge of the garden steps or peeping joyfully from the fence corners. Even the wee tots to whom even the bunnles are still subjects way in the future, can spy out the hiding places of the ekgs and Miss Crary has never overlooked these wee gu by the way, when she has sent out her in- vitations. And after the hunt there are always goodies to eat before the party breaks up. For twenty years or more Miss Orary has given this apnual party for the chil- dreh, It began with her own small nleces and nephews, and last Sunday afternoon her grandnloces and nephews were in the merry party that romped through her yard in seareh of the two hundred or more bril- lantly colored eggs deposited about in the hiding places famillar to scores of others who have been her guests in the past. For weeks before Huster the Nitle suests had heard tales of the wonderful egg hunt from parents who knew all about it, and since then the.story has been told back over and over agaln with the additional en- thusiasm that comes from mutual experi- ence. But it Is not only to the children of the older families thct Miss Crary has extended this delightful privilege. The little folks of the Creche and others have also been her guests on varlous occasions, and GROUP OF EASTER EGG HUNTERS ON THE LAWN AT THE HOME OF AND' 8T, MARY'S AVENUB. Crary Lawn although Easter Sunday afternoon is re- served for the children of personal friends, the later hunts are no less enjoyable and lack nothing In the care with which they are planned. MISS ANNA «CRARY, TWENTY-SECOND done move me to go wuck in de Lord's vineyard on de banks ob Cypress ribber."— Harper's Weekly, N / R — Rather Fight Than Feed 'Em. When, at Gaines Mill in 182, the Mifth Texas captured two whole regiments of Yankees. The Texan soldiers were all very proud of their achievement. J. B. Polley was one of them, and in his “Soldler's Let- ters to Charming Nellle,” he describes an amusing scene In connection with the sur- render. When the Yankee officers surrendered thelr swords In & body to Colonel Upton they were 80 prompt In the duty that he was compelled to lay down the frying pan which he carried in place of a sword, and hold the weapons presented in his arms. Just then he noticed a commotion at the far end of the captured regiments. That was near the timber, and a squad of the prisoners were making an effort to pass by “Blg John Ferrls,” of company B, who stood thare, unalded, endeavoring to inter- cept them. Bpringing upon a log, the armful of swords dangling about in every direction, Upton shouted: “You, John Ferrls t0 do now?" “I'm trying to keep these fellows from escaping,”” returned Big Jobn, in a sten- iorian volce. “Let them go, you finfernal fool!"” shouted Upton. “We'd a sight rather fight ‘em than feed 'em.”—New York Sun. — Ready Retort. What are you trylng An Actol When Barry Sulllvan, the Irish tragedian, was playing Richard III one night and the actor came to the lines, “A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horsel" some merry wag in the pit called out: “And wouldn't & jackass do as well for you?" “Bure,” answered Bulllvan, turning lke & flash at the sound of the voice. “Come around to the stage door at once!™ Founder of Arbor Day (Continued trom Page One.) to this beautiful passage & most exquisite pathos: It was a bright, balmy morning in April more than a quarier Of a century ago. The sun was nursing the young grass into verdure, and the prairie was just beginning to put off its winter coat of somber color- ings. Tranquil skies and morning mists were redolent at Arbor Lodge of the com- ing resurrection of the follage and flowers thet died the autumn before. All about the cottage home there was hope and e; and everywhere the signs of wom- an‘s watohful love and Udy care, when, suddenly, toned with affectionate solici- tude, rang out: “Carl, Carl.."” but no an- swer came. Downstairs, upstairs, at the even in the well, everywhere, the volce called anxiously, agein and But the silence, menacing and frightening, was unbroken by an answer from the lost boy. At last, however, he was found behind a smoke house, busily digging in_the ground with o small spade, thousth only § years of age. and ho said “I'm too busy to talk. I'm planting an orchard,” and sure enough, he had set out & tiny seedling apple tree, s small cotton- wood and a little elm. The delighted mother clasped him in her arms, kissed him and sald: “This orchard must not be destroyed. ment of every oity, as they have burned down or become too small for the business, have been replaced by large and substan- tial brick and stone bufldings. The resi- dent portion of the town is composed of neat and commodious, ornamented and well kept homes, including many praten- tious residences that would do credit to & much larger city. The town was laid out in 159 by Messrs, McDonnel and Mattingly, but the period of growth commenced with 1§72, the year the St. Joseph & Western was completed, since which time, excepting 1875, the yesr succeeding the grasshopper scourge, the growth has been steady and substantial. Mr. McDonnel gave the place its name, choosing the name of his previous resi- dence. Fairbury, 1l The postotfice was established here in 1809. The great ma- jority of the population are native Amer- icans, although there are a few of other nationalities. Nearly every state in the union is represented. As a class, the peo plo are well educated, Intelligent and of refined taste. They are thoroughly alive to the interest of home education. One of the most eventful storms in the history of Nebraska struck this city just as its citigens were retiring for the night, June 20, 1881 Over $3,000 damage was done to window lights alone. The hail and rain was the most severe ever experienced on the western prairie, The first school In Fairbury was a pri- vate one taught by Dr. R. 8. Chapman in 1670. In 1871 & public school was started with about fifteen pupils. The religlous element is quite as well represented here as at any other point In Nebraska, and the standard of morality is commendably high. Deep respect for the Sabbath is nearly universal. The Woman's Christian Temperance union has been active In this little city from the beginning. It was or- ganized In March, 1881, with ten members, and its efforts and Influence are seen and felt on every 1. The press has been a great ald in building up the town and county. It Is well patre ed at home, and has an extensive circulation outside the city, also over the county. Fairbury ‘Is a modern little city in every respect. Its court house is one of the models of the state. It is bullt of native sandstone, erected at a cost of $5,000. The new high school, with ten large rooms, is modern In every sense of the word and fairly represents the progress of its citl- zens. The other school bulldings are of a substantial nature. The foundation is lald for a new Carnegle library and two new school buildings are under construction at a cost of $3,000. The water works and electric plant give excellent service and are appreciated by the entire city. One of the principal industries of the city is the large floyring mill. It is operated by water power. This plant has prominent for many years in the unbullding of the clty and surrounding country. The several mills of this county manufactured and shipped out last year 29% 00 pounds of flour and 339,000 pounds of mi'l fead. More and more each vear th's eltv is hecoming prominnent as a manufac < center. Fairbury {s the center Af n magnific farming country. It fa the frastinn of three main lines of cad between the cast and wes! and It Is the alvision polnt Rock Island & Pacific, wh shops are located, with a pavell amount- iag to #365,000 per month. The Burlington lines from east to west pass through the olty, and the 8t. Joe & Grand Island rafl- road, running from St. Joseph to Grand Tsland, connects with the main line of the Union Pacifie. Fairbury has many manufacturing plants controlled by local capital The Fairbury Iron Works and Windmill company eme- ploys about weventy-five men. The clty has a planing mill turning out all kinds of woodwork from bank furniture to a full constructed house. There are two large nurseries adjoining the city, also twe creameries. ‘The city has freé mall des livery, aleo several free fural routes that serve a large gection of dountry, heen nt noint aperating southwest, Chicago, their repatr of t And so now 1 hear the muffled tramp of years Come stealing up the siores of Time; They bear a train of *miles and ‘tears Of burning hopes and dreams sublime, The child’e orchard is than thirty years of age. The ¢ A is a glant now and its vibrant foliage talks, summer after summer, in the evening bresze with humaniike vo! and tells its life story to the graceful, swaying elm nearby, while the gnarled and scrubby little apple (res, shaped, as to its head, like a despondent toadstool, stands in dual shade, and hears small sweet apples, year after year, in all humility. But that orchard must not be destroyed. It was established by the young- est tree planter who ever planted in this tree planters’ state, and for his sake and the memory of the sweet soul who nursed and loved him it lives and grows, one cots tonwood, one apple tree, one elm. But O, for the touch of a vani; And the sound of a voloe that is The memoriés that Mve and bloom in trees, that whisper of the loved and lost in summer leaves, are as imperishable as the asons of the year—immortal as the love of & mother.—Paul Morton in Country Life of America. mor 63 h 'lend,