Southern Nebraska

Population of Beatrice

Fine Churches and Public Buildings

Beatrice, Nebraska, Oct. 26, 1870

Editor Daily Bulletin.

After a day's ride with the Kansas & Nebraska Stage Company, your correspondent found himself comfortably located at the Emery House in this village. This being my third visit to this place, I had little to do the first day but to call on those it had been my good fortune to meet, and enjoy a “hearty shake.”

I found them busy as bees, with apparently but one motive - namely, the building up of Beatrice. Thought the mercury of events is far from freezing, improvements of the most substantial character are being pushed rapidly to completion.

The Court House when completed would do honor to many towns of double the inhabitants of Beatrice. The building is of brick, two stories high, with basement to be used for the safe keeping of those who dare insult the dignity of Gage County, and will cost $10,000.

The Presbyterian Church is now nearing completion, at a cost of $5,000, this is also a brick structure. The Methodist Church is a substantial stone building, and will receive its carpets and chandeliers the coming week. The Public School House is worthy of note, being no less than a two story brick building on the most improved style, and will cost between $5,000 and $6,000/ The firm of Reynolds & Townsend are building one of the best store rooms in the interior of Nebraska, which they will occupy with a mammoth stock of goods next month. The above buildings have all been built during this season, aside from numerous dwellings and business houses less expensive. The citizens of this town and county are alive to their Railroad Interest.

The county quite recently voted $300,000 in bonds to the following Railroad Companies: The Omaha & Southwestern $100,000, the Brownville & Ft. Kearney $100,000, and the Burlington & Southwestern $100,000. Two of the above roads are looked for next season. Until that time, the old, reliable Kansas & Nebraska Stage Line, will furnish good stages, fast stock and gentlemanly drivers for the transportation of everybody and their families. Among the business men I met I will mention the well known firm of Dorsey Bros. & McConnell, who are largely interested in the land business. The above firm owns several hundred acres of choice land which they are offering for sale on the most reasonable terms. Aside from their own land they are agents for some of the best lands in Southern Nebraska. Knowing them to be first class business men, I deem it a special favor to recommend them to parties coming into this portion of Nebraska. The next place of interest I visited was the flouring and mill owned and run by ----, Wetherald * Co. This firm, with their immense machinery, are turning out an immense amount of the best quality of flour; in fact, the immenseness of the whole establishment is immensely immense. The best evidence of the reputation the mill bears abroad is, that at the State Fair held at Brownville, the “Cream of the Valley,” the company's choice brand, was awarded the first and second premiums.

W. P. Hess is an old citizen of Gage County, and has recently engaged in a general grocery and provision business.

Messrs. Campbell & Co. are dealers and manufacturers of furniture. Their stock seems to be well selected, and the firm are enjoying a good trade.

John Hogshead is running a grocery and provision store. John's a good boy, and if his groceries are as good as his cigars and fine cut, I have no hesitancy in recommending the entire outfit. Reed Bros. & Thacker are the best advertised druggists in the State of Nebraska. Mr. Thacker has charged of the branch house at this point and seems perfectly familiar with the business. Howard & Sprague have recently succeeded the firm of Payne and Harvey, and commence business under very favorable circumstances. It was my pleasure to meet Mr. J. Speicher, of Liscomb, Iowa, who expresses himself well pleased with this portion of the west, so much so that hew invested liberally in the fertile prairies of Nebraska. Mr. James Boyd is supplying this portion of Nebraska with the best quality of boots, manufactured under his own mechanical eye. I have mentioned the many good things of which Beatrice can boast; and just here, I find the old adage but to true—“Every rose has its thorn,” - and that is, Mr. C. N. Emery, who opened up the Emery House last January, finds that the health of both himself and his lady demands that he should, for a while, at least, retire from the arduous duties of hotel life. Mr. and Mrs. E. , during the last ten months, have established for their house a most enviable reputation, while for themselves they have made thousands of friends. Mr. E. has in course of construction a large and commodious barn, ion which he will for the present run a livery stable. WE can but wish him unbounded success in his new field of service—which his energy and large circle of friends will insure. Mr. Emery commends his successor (Mr. J. A. McMeans, of Indiana,) to the favor of traveling public. Hoping he may follow in the footsteps of “Charley,”

I am Cap-A-Pie

Leavenworth Bulletin - November 2, 1870