1868, a post office was
established at the settlement of Urban under the same name, with James D.
Brown as Postmaster.
In the winter of 1865-66, a school was opened at the
house of J. Crowley, with Mrs. Frances G. Crowley as teacher.
In the fall
of 1867, a sod schoolhouse was erected , in which, in the
fall of 1869, Rev. George Worley preached the first sermon ever listened
to in the settlement.
Two years later, in the spring of 1871, Bert Swan
opened a store with a stock of general merchandise.
The
first child born was a son of J. C. Hatchett (Thomas), October 1, 1866.
Thomas Worrall and Miss Polly Brown were the first parties to contract
marriage. The ceremony was performed February 22, 1869.
The first time
that death made its appearance in this little hamlet was in the fall of
1870, when Mr. L. Simpson was struck down by the hand of the grim
destroyer.
In the early part of 1864, Joseph Shields, with his family, settled
in one of the timber groves of the Big Blue, and made the
first settlement made in the southern portion of the county. He was
followed by Abraham Towner, in 1866, David Reed, J. M. Palmer, Dr. S. T.
W. Thrapp, McD. Towner, in June, 1867. They all located upon the Blues.
Towner, Sr., located about four miles west of Ulysses; David Reed, J. M. Palmer, upon the present site of Ulysses,
and was the original
proprietor of a part of the town; Dr. Thrapp, McD. Towner, all in Town 13.
In the spring of 1868, Jacob Kenauber,
James McIntosh, Ephraim Palmer, settled in west part of town
. James Sisty also settled near Mr. E. Palmer in this year, and Sumner
Darnell settled upon the north fork of the Blue, in the spring
of
1867.
Christopher Davis, James Darnell, George Reed, Robert Reed, G. McCarty,
settled in the vicinity of Ulysses. Mr. McCarty homesteaded the town site;
George and Robert Reed located on Section 34, Town 13, Range 2; Davis and
Darnell about four miles northeast of the town.
A school district was
organized in 1869. It included a territory nine miles square, and was the
first organization effected south of the settlements made on the Platte
and upon Oak Creek.
The following are the officers of the first School Board:
Sumner Darnell, Director
Dr. S. T. W. Thrapp, Moderator
and J. M.
Palmer, Treasurer
The first school was held in the house of Dr. Thrapp,
was of three months' duration and taught by J. M. Wilkinson, ex-County
Judge.
The following summer, a three months' school was taught by Mr.
Metcalf, and since that date the district has never been without a ten
months' school each year.
A frame schoolhouse, 18x24 feet, was erected in
1871, which was used until 1877.
Rev. William Worley, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, organized the first circuit in the county and preached
the first sermon in the groves of the Blue, in 1868, and yet he can hardly
be said to have organized a regular circuit, for his labors partook more
of the character of missionary work, spreading the good news of the Gospel
of Christ wherever he found a listening heart, either in the dug-out of
the pioneer or under the broad canopy of the heavens.
The field of his
work included the counties of Saunders, Butler, Polk and a portion of
Seward. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Comstock, who was assisted by Rev.
Mr. Oliver. They completed the organization inaugurated by Rev. William
Worley.
Rev. Abraham Towner was the first local minister to settle on the
Blue, and has always been an earnest worker, and rendered efficient aid to
the early fathers of the church, who were called upon to minister to this
people.
The first birth occurring was a son to Dr. S. T. W. Thrapp, in 1867.
The first marriage in the new settlement took place in 1869. The
participants were Mr. Thomas Shields and Miss Adaline Skillman. The
ceremony was performed in Seward County, that being the nearest point for
obtaining the matrimonial solder. The wedding reception and dance were
given at the log cabin of the bridegroom's father, and it was one of the
happy events of the times.
In 1870, death made its appearance for the
first time in the annals of Ulysses by removing a son of Jacob Kenauber.
The last sad honors to the dead are indeed a painful duty to perform among
many. There being no clergyman to officiate, the remains were
tenderly laid in their last earthly resting-place, without the customary
service, on the farm of Mr. Kenauber. This hallowed spot was afterward
presented to the county for a public cemetery, and is situated on the
hill
close to the site of Ulysses.
In 1870, the first settlement was made upon the table-land proper, by
O. H. Ford, J. C. Ford, George Fox, J. Zimmerman, Jacob Kleinhan, Thomas
Dowling, William M. Bunting, John Bunting, J. D. Van Tassell, William
Jackson, Thomas Preston, E. Ackerman, L. Ham, J. Shotwell, E. Shotwell,
Milo Yaw and Lewis Brown.
Source:
Andreas History of Nebraska