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A Thriving South Platte
County and Its Capital
The Life and Prosperity That Place
Beatrice in the Front Row
Business Enterprises that are
Models in Their Way
Representative Men and Their Work
Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska,
March 2, 1880.
All around here are the evidences
of thrift and prosperity. Well
cultivated farms stretch away on every hand; houses, barns and wind pumps look
out over the country like fleets of ships on the sea.
Cattle, sheep, hogs and horses
revel where but a few years since the antelope and the buffalo roamed in
countless numbers and coyotes were baying for their blood.
The prairie dogs have forsaken
their villages, and the rattle snake and the prairie owl have moved on with
their herbivorous neighbors to more remote places in the distant west.
A few decades hence and there
will be no room on this continent for wild beasts and uncivilized men.
The march of progress like a
whirl wind is sweeping away the primitive conditions of things and the arts of
peace and civilization are fast driving to the wall these vestiges of
barbarism.
Towns, cities and villages,
cultivated fields and blooming gardens are now seen where a dozen years ago the
smoke of the wigwam curled over the plains and mingled with the clouds.
Iron highways have blotted out
the Indian trail and telegraph lines are a mighty stride ahead of the pony
express.
A flood of immigration both
native and foreign, is rolling out upon these plains, surging on westward,
waking up industry and civilization in its progress, founding marts and cities
on the hitherto solitary rivers, dotting these vast prairies with happy homes,
and still gathering and pouring outward to form a new states.
Civilization has conquered the
locust plague, driven out the primitive
races, subdued the wilderness, and is now turning gits attention to the
development of the latent wealth that has slumbered here in the mountains
beyond for unknown centuries.
Facts and Figures
Gage County
embraces an area of nearly 600,000 acres, about all of it susceptible of
cultivation. It is watered by the Big
Blue River, a dozen or more tributaries, and its soil has been compared t the
deep alluvium that stretches away from the shores of the Nile and the Rhine.
Its southern boundary is the 40th
parallel of the north latitude. It is in
the third tier from and sixty miles west of the Missouri River and forty south
of Lincoln, the
capital of the State.
Topographically it is undulated
prairie, interspersed with belts of deciduous timber, fringing the streams and
crowning the heads of the bluffy places like diadems.
Excellent well water can be obtained
at from twenty to seventy-five feet in depth all over the county.
The climate is equable, dry and
healthy, and the seasons are favorable to seed time and harvest. The cold here is never excessive, is of abort
duration and the heat of summer does not oppress.
The prime conditions of life
soil, climate, water and other advantages are here in all their native purity
and excellence, and an intelligent and thrifty people are testing their
capabiliti4es, picking up the vacant places and making the country teem with
industry.
The only public lands now for
sale in the country are what is left of the Otoe Indian Reservation – about
100,000 acres. Good lands can be
obtained, second handed, at from $5 to $12 per acre, and newcomers are daily
availing themselves of those opportunities.
Railroads have opened up the
country to the markets of the world, and the farmers and stockmen now see their
opportunity to make up for their past isolation and deprivations.
Beatrice, the county seat, has a
population of not far from 2,500.
A branch of the B. M. Railway
extends from Crete down the Blue to this
point, a distance of thirty miles. The
intervening country is not excelled by any similar area.
Cultivated fields, thrifty homes,
groves and orchards dot the face of it and plenty abounds on every hand.
Wilber and Dewitt are bright
looking town on the line, and they have become of some commercial importance as
shipping points for grain and stock.
Railway Advantages
Beatrice is now the terminus of
two railroads, this branch of the B. & M. and a branch of the U. P. just
completed from Marysville, Kansas.
Another line of the former
company is coming in from their road in the Republican
Valley which is to be pushed on east
to the Missouri River and may then become their main line to the Rocky Mountains.
The U. P. will unite this branch
at Lincoln with one just completed from Valparaiso. Thus it will be seen how all this magnificent
region is being opened to settlement and the way paved for a wealthy and dense
population.
Not only the town but the
surrounding country is settled by a thrifty, industrious and enterprising
people, largely from the Northern States, with just a sprinkling of well-to-do
Europeans.
The immigration, of which there
is a goodly number now thronging in, may be classed in the same order.
Few towns in the West are as
happily situated as Beatrice. She is
located on the Big Blue and enjoys the advantages of one of the finest water
powers on that stream.
For agricultural and stock
purposed her surroundings are unexcelled.
Excellent building and lime stone abound; fire, brick and potter’s
clays; oak, walnut, cottonwood and other deciduous timbers fringe the streams;
native grassed dense and beautiful, crown the uncultivated places like garlands,
and the soil everywhere yields up its treasures when quickened by a liberal
hand.
The town is full of progress and
the spirit of wholesome emulation pushes on a multitude of enterprises.
The trades and professions are
well represented. Choice sections of
general merchandise grace the shelves of many of a well filled store. Three large hardware houses carry heavy
stocks. Several pretty drug
establishments serve the public in their line.
A half dozen hotels feed the
hungry and take the weary in out of the wet.
Agricultural machinery is spread
around like a hail storm. Livery barns
are numerous and they support some very good horses.
Elevators, stock yards, and
similar enterprises are ample and well managed.
Religeous and Educational
The Presbyterians, Methodists,
Baptists, Catholics, Episcopalians, United Brethren and Disciples have chuch
editices and there are one or tow denominations besides. They have fair congregations and their good
works are tending upward.
There is a first class public
school, with its various departments, where the young are instructed in the
primary branches for the more common evocations of life, or trained in the
higher grades for college and a classical course.
Church and school facilities are
all that is required at present, and in addition to this is an excellent public
library free reading room.
The Masons, Odd Fellows and
Templars of Honor and are in a flourishing condition, beautiful buildings grace
the city and there are several substantial blocks that would do credit to a
place of fifty thousand people.
The court house is spacious, well
built structure, overlooking the town and the surrounding country.
Other Interests
W. H. Thrift Esq. has just
completed a large two story brick building, 25 X 100 feet, with a full sized
basement. The first floor is devoted to
a retail hardware business, elegantly finished off and heavily stocked with
goods. In the basement Mr. Thrift stores
his heavy articles – iron, nails, fence wire, etc. On the upper floor manufacturing is done, tin
ware, carriages and other wares. The
building is provided with an improved elevator and all the departments are in
keeping with such an enterprise. Taken together
it is one of the best retail hardware establishments in the State. The stock is large, well selected, and the
building is arranged for convenience, and constructed to stand the ware and
tear of a century.
In addition the proprietor has
one of the prettiest residences in this part of Nebraska.
A few such men have built up Beatrice and are making her the foremost
city in this part of the State.
Wm. Lamb is another on of these
enterprising property owners, a through going public spirited citizen. He has two or three well filled farms
adjoining town and owns—quite extensively – choice property within its
limits. His arrival here dates back
about eleven years, thus it will be seen he was early on the ground and has not
neglected his opportunities. In addition
to his real estate and other interests he does a private banking business. Few men have been more successful under
similar circumstances.
One of the very worth and
valuable acquisitions to the town is the First National Bank. It ranks among the sound prosperous banking
houses of the State. Its officers are:
John E. Smith, president
S. W. Baker, vice president
S. C. Smith, cashier
Frank Graham, assistant cashier
Directors:
The Smith Brothers
S. W. Parker
C. G. Dorsey
Elijah Filley
A. S. Paddock
James Ellis of New York
The Smiths do banking in Red
Cloud also. This firm is wealthy, public
spirited, and it has the confidence and good will of all who are acquainted
with the institution or its members.
Beatrice Flouring Mills
Black Bros. have recently
constructed and put in operation a four run mill, driven by water. It is complete in all its details, and is
turning gout a superior article of flour.
Three sets of the burrs are four feet each, the other, three and a half. The machinery is the most improved, flour the
patent process, not surpassed anywhere.
Capacity fifteen to twenty bushels per hour. In connection with the mill the brothers have
erected an elevator, with bins for holding 20,000 bushels. They own a one half interest in the
magnificent water power for which, and the amount they hav expended in erecting
their mills, elevator, dam, and making their necessary improvements, $25,000
would not exceed the aggregate. These
valuable properties are an important aid to the business of the place, while at
the same time they afford the farmers profitable and ready market for their
small grain.
McConnell’s Addition
L. N. McConnell, a prominent real
estate dealer, has laid out an addition to the town, styled “East Beatrice,” or
“McConnell’s Addition.”
It embraces an area of 120 acres,
located on the west side of the river.
Lots are selling rapidly over there and many fine improvements are being
made. The site is commanding,
picturesque and beautiful. For
residences it is, considered among the best properties of the city.
That side will eventually become the
fashionable resort of the place. Elegant
drives, promenades and boulevards will be established, thus making it highly
attractive as a place of recreation.
Mr. McConnell is the most
extensive and reliable real estate dealer in southern Nebraska.
He is thoroughly informed as to all the lands in this and adjoining
counties.
Immigrants and others seeking
information I his line will consult their own interests by communicating with
him. He has recently sold to one man
realty to the value of over $17,000 and he still has his hands full of just as
good bargains. There will never be a
better time than now, to purchase lands in this, the garden spot of Nebraska.
Cottage Hill Farm
This valuable farm is located in Gage County,
eleven miles due east of Beatrice. It is
the property of Elijah Filley and embraces
an area of 1,400 acres. Over 600
acres are under cultivation and 20,000 bushels of corn were among the products
the past season.. Mr. Filley turned the
first sod here in 1867. In the beginning
he owned his land and was out of debt, but money he had none, neither horses
nor cattle worth the name. He brought
with him six spans of horses, but many of them died on his hands before they
became acclimated, and as a last resort he was reduced to a single yoke of meek eyed oxen for a
team. By self denial -- such a few men would undergo for the price
– coupled with good judgement, determination, and a unconquerable energy, he has
weathered the storms; can now bask under his own vine and fig tree and let the
world swing on as it will. On the farm
today there are eleven miles of osage orange hedge, dense, thrifty and proof
against cattle, sheep, hogs, horses and Jack rabbits.
Among the building improvements
may be mentioned a large three story stone barn, as firm as the pyramids;
dwelling house of stone; corn barn containing sheller driven by wind; long
racks of corn cribs filled to epletion; stables, corrals and miles of sheds for
stock. There are thrifty groves of black
walnut and cottonwood, many of the former having already borne bushels of their
peculiar fruit.
Tanks for water, artificial ponds
and wells are provided on different parts of the estate for stock and various
other purposes. The farm is bisected by
running streams, and several fine bodies of timber skirt their borders. One hundred acres of timothy is in
cultivation; fruit orchards, gardens, vines and other products.
From 1,000 to 1,500 head of
cattle are fattened annually on the farm and about as many hogs. Twenty five to thirty horses and mules and
from ten to fifteen men are employed in the busy season. This splendid achievement is the result of
one man’s enterprise and business ability – aided by his frugal and industrious
companion – in but little more than one decade.
It simply proves what industry
and resolution may accomplish on these western prairies.
True, Mr. Filley deals
extensively in stock, and has made money at the business, buying and selling
several thousand hear yearly. But his
farm has been the basis of his success and from it he is reaping a golden
harvest.
His land cost him in college
scrip the nominal sum of about 65 cents per acre, now worth $25 per acre.
Surrounded by a happy family,
with the comforts of a well regulated home and plenty smiling at the door, an
integrity above reproach, no brighter laurels can adore the brow of any man on
earth.
In Conclusion
I may say with a pardonable pride
that there is no brighter or more promising town in Southern
Nebraska. Amagnificent iron
bridge spans the river her, four weekly papers:
Express
Courier
Leader
Gage County
Democrat
are doing their best to make
known the work of this part of the world and enlighten the masses.
Church and school facilities are
ample; the traders, professions and mechanics branches are well represented;
good hotels are not an exception. First
of which the Pacific takes rank, presided over by A. G. Randall. This house is really an honor to the name it
bears and the traveling public will be pleased to learn that fact.
About 25,000 head of sheep are
grazed in the county. They are found to
be one of the most profitable industries of this region. As this is a stock growing county, much of
the corn raised is fed at home, as it should be, thereby benefiting the country
in the right direction.
Hall
Omaha Herald – March 4, 1880
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