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The
county was organized in January, 1872. At that time, there were several stock raisers
in the county and two permanent settlers.
The
last two were Henry C. and Mortimer H. Clifford, who had married Indian squaws
and settled on the Medicine, a short distance from the present town of Stockville, where they
lived in lodges.
The
cattle owners had selected this location on account of the rich pasturage, and,
fearing that settlers might crowd in upon them, they took measures to organize
a county here, thinking to select a location about midway between the Platte
and Republican Valleys, and thereby pass a county law, compelling farmers to
fence their land so that cattle could run at large.
At
the time of the organization of the county, January 5, 1872, the following
persons met at the Indian lodge occupied by Henry C. Clifford and his family:
John
Bratt
Mortimer
H. Clifford
William
H. Miles
Samuel
F. Watts
John
Y. Nelson
Arthur
Roff
John
D. Jones
James
D. Kerr
Elias
Miller
E.
G. Nesbitt
Ambrose
S. Shelley
Robert
Cooper
Asa
McManus
When
the business of the evening was nearly concluded, and the papers were to be
signed, it was found that there was not a penholder in the possession of any
member of the party. After
considerable search, an old steel pen was found, and was made ready for use
by being tied with a siring to a piece of dry weed stalk. This pen and holder is
now in the possession of E. G. Nesbitt.
The
lodge where this meeting was held is about three miles from Stockville, the
present county seat, which is located almost in the geographical center of the
county.
The
first County Clerk, John W. Kirby, received his
commission, dated January 18, 1872, from the Acting Governor of Nebraska,
William H. James, after which the organization of the county may be said to
have been complete.
The
remaining county officers were:
Samuel F. Watts, Judge
John
Bratt, William H. Miles and M. H. Clifford, Commissioners
H.
C. Clifford, Sheriff
Levi
Carter, Treasurer
John
D. Jones, Coroner
Arthur
Roff, Justice of the Peace
John
Y. Nelson, Surveyor
E.
G. Nesbitt, Superintendent of Schools
James
D. Kerr, Registrar
Elias
Miller, Assessor
The
first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners took place February 5, 1872,
at which time the official bonds of the county officers were examined and
approved. There were so few persons in the county that each voter was required as
a bondsman, and, in some instances, one man signed a number of bonds.
A
special election was held April 1, 1872, for the purpose of voting as to
whether or not the herd law should be suspended in Frontier County.
A law of the State provided that each cattle owner should herd his stock and
keep them off the cultivated lands.
At
this time, there were two voting places in the county—one at Carter, which was
simply Coe, Carter & Co.'s stock ranch, and the other at Stockville, which
consisted only of the residences of E. G. Nesbitt and Judge Watts.
The
entire number of votes polled at Carter were sixteen and all were for
suspension. The number of votes polled at Stockville was thirteen, of which
twelve were for suspension, and one—that of C A. McManns—against.
Therefore, the herd law was suspended in this
county, and cattle have ever since been allowed to run at large. This has proven a wise course, as stockraising
is the leading industry of the county, and it is much more to the interests of
the county at large for the few farmers to fence and protect their crops.
The
first tax levy was made July 1, 1872; this being at the rate of 15 mills on the
dollar, at which rate the taxes were assessed for several years. The county
affairs were carried on at a very small expense, as for the first four years
none of the county officers drew any salary, except the Clerk.
The
first and only liquor license ever granted in the county was on July 1, 1872,
to Henry C. Clifford, at $25 for the year.
The
first Justice of the Peace, Arthur Roff, never had a case before him during his
term of office.
The
first Surveyor, John Y. Nelson, knew nothing of surveying, and, of course, had
nothing to do.
The
Judge, Samuel F. Watts, was a practical Surveyor and an able and highly
cultivated gentleman, who is now a resident of North Platte, Representative in the
Legislature for this district and Surveyor of Lincoln County.
At
the general election, held October 8, 1872, the following officers were
elected:
Clerk,
E. G. Nesbitt
Commissioner,
John Bratt
Justices
of the Peace, D. B. Palmer and C. W. Halsey
Assessor,
A. S. Shelley
Constable, John Fretcher
Each
of the officers elected received twenty-nine votes. There were no opposition
candidates and no scratching of tickets.
History of Nebraska 1882
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