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VOLUME XXIX.
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA. MAY 2 1. l!01.
NUMBER til
WEBSTER COUNTY AND RED CLOUD.
A Graphic Pen Picture of the Topographical
Features, Soils, Water Supply and
Agricultural Resources of
A MATCHLESS COMMONWEALTH.
A Region That Has Liberally Responded to the
Thrift of Man and Bountiful Yields Re
sult From Nature's Lavish Gifts.
CONTAINING HISTORY, FACTS, PR0PHCEY AND DATA,
From the
Allied
Archives of Time Concerning Its People and Their
Interests. Red Cloud is the Fountain-Head of a
Largo Trading Circle and All Branches of
Business is Represented.
BY M. D. STEINER.
VV II KN Henry W. (Irady, tlio
I I I great orator, editor and states.
Ay manor the statu of (ioorgia,
tho Horace (Ircoly of tlio south, a man
revered by nil liberty-loving American
people, declared in a burst, of touch
ing eloquence Unit thero should bo no
north, no south, no east, no west, but
one groat and powerful republic, tree
from all national strifo and differences,
linked together in tho bonds of human
sympathy, love and mutual welfare, he
struck tho keynoto of American civil
tvmtion and independence, made dear
to us all bv tho fundamental laws .o
wisely foreseen and laid down by eur
forefathers. Had Henry W. Grady
lived he probably would huve wrought
perhapa by this time, tho reforms
which ho so earnestly and ardently
-championed and united the American
puople under the one great standanl
of truth, virtue, honesty, and unity of
purpose and brotherly love; bound tip
and healed all tho wounds and differ
uncos of the past and present; set uni
form standards of moral, social, indus-
..!.. i ..ml nifiliMilliii'iil life: ostllbllshei
llxed and
principles
the deer trod these plains and that
splendor of tho orient, the llery sun,
cleft the azuro robes of night and set.
her blaze of glory on the eastern skies,
it revealed naught but. a dreary waste,
bleak and bare, save for a rank growtli
of prairie grass aud tho footprints of
the nomadic buffalo nnd beasts of the
pluins. Now, however, connected with
tho great populations of tho east by
the spider like bands or steel of the
trans-continental railroads, aud trans
formed aud awakened by tho skilled
hand of man, backed by the grent prin
ciples of civilization, education, und
science Inherited, tho land Is indeed a
roritnble garden spot The seil is
rich and prolific, and Its marreloiiK
fertility, coupled with tho aid and bo
Dignity of Damo Nature, brings forth
bounteous yields of all kinds of crops,
hlef among which are wheat, rye,
oats win nnd' all the cereals. They
grow to perfection in this spleu
did elimuUi, and although the prices
at present for farm products are not
extremely hiiih. the profits have been
siifllcient to ulford many a innii a com
1
10
i.i r..f ..11.. 1. ft..... .....1 . lut tit:tlji 11 IIIHIT
irrevocn.no governmental inn- ihi.- j ..-....,
in all branches. Then sum eaon year
woiildiill this vast empire west ol tne
STssinni river have thriven prog-
rKKMl and nrospored as never before
hi her history, and the crowning getn
in the ilhutrious diadem made up of
these hardy and dauntless wet-tern
nt-atos would have boon Xobnisku, and
foremost among her energetic, enter
prising and growing cities would have
been lied Cloud, tho homo of industry,
patriotism aud thrift.
Hut tho Creator in His infinite wis
dom decreed that these- things wore
not to be. Mankind always was and
always will bo of dlverso opiuion, and
there will bo dissensions and pretun
..:..., . i.i.iiF hi. liomanitv and tho
world endure.
It is not tho Intention of this article
to donl with politics in any way, Mmpo
or form. It im i widely different.
Only those facts which aro accept oil
and acknowledged by all will bo given
reference
Whatever has been tho cause, we all
know that for n period some years ago,
times were hard, money scarce, prices
low, and the cry of hunger, want, cold,
misery aud despair went up from many
parts ef this country and the whole
werld. lu the face of all theso adverse
circumstances however, tho grand
commonwealth of Nebraska and the
dauntless county of Wobitor have
frrr.l sti-iidllv to the front, maintain-
ed their supremacy aud shown a zeal
und courage In faciiig a deplorable
condition in the affairs of mon beforo
which many a less enterprising and
wide awake section would havo resign
ed themsolves to despair aud retro,
gros&lon, and today she Is tho centor
of ono of the most prosperous and In
dustrious regions of tho west.
Fro a desert in yearn gone by,
wueu Rome but the wily red rnauwid
Tho energy of man rightly applied
ean overcome all obstacles und make a
prosper-out. community in tho midst of
a desortuud cause a barren waste to
become u veritable paradise When
this same energy and fixedness of pur
poso Is aided by nature, the result aro
but the same and man naturally bo
comes better repaid through his being
relieved from tho combat with sterile
surroundings aud consequently iiuds
more in life to enjoy.
Looking backwards over a lapne of
but a few short years into tho desolate
waste land of Webster county, when
tho coyote aud the rattlesnake rulod
tho domain and tho rich laud remaiued
untouchod by tho plow, ono can hardly
realize that in this onco barren plain
cities and towns have sprung up as if
by magic TIwj most gifted ien and
thw most eloquent tongue cannot, paint
the chango wrought within a little
more tlmn a quarter of a century.
Wobstur county stands among the llrst
counties of tho great state of Nebraska,
and within her borders is acity that has
made rapid strides Red Cloud. Kho
is blessed 'with a locntiou, which like u
great magnot, draws trade from a
large area of country.
Nature may offer nil, but unaided
by man remaius only a beautiful
waste. Nature has done much for
Webster county but man has done
more. The over-llflng euergy of those
brave pioneers who settlod on those
broad acres, braved tho summer's sun
and tho winter's blast, has produced
thousands or bcauurul hornet, aud
millions of wealth
It is true that thero are her drones.
as in any other community, who live
on tho drippings of prosperity that
thoir buiilnewi neighbors perait to
drop from tkelr tables, and wlthettt
individuality they exist, and show a
contrast to their business rivals, that
proves beneficial to the latter. Hut
there arc only a few of this class in
this county, fewer than ma.V be found
in any other municipality Hut in
order that the trailer may have exact
and definite information lunching her
i resource, and t'linahilltio, tile follow-
ini' slut (sties are submitted, ami the
I fact that I hoy have been iceun-d from
sonnf of Webster county'n liwst in
formed men is guarantee siifllcient of
their reliability.
Webster County win named in honor
of the great statesman, Daniel Web
ster. It lies in Mie sonthern tier or
coanticb and is boundvd on til north
by AiUiiis connty, aM fey Xukoll,
south by .lewell aud Smith rountles
in the state of Kansas, and v,u-t by
Kfiinkllii i-iiuntv. Nebraska It haw an
area or :ir,s,(M0 acres, all of whick is
pialric, except u small proportion of
timbered laud along the streams
The topography of the county pre
sents some striking features. The
Republican river passes through it
from east to west from four to live
miles north of its southern boundary.
An immense number of small creeks
How into it; especially from the north,
and this river unlike the Platte, in
creases In breadth and volume all the
way through the county.
The south side or this river, as it
misses through Webster county, Is
bordered with bluffs that rise abruptly
to a height of from 75 to 1.1(1 feet and
the river generally runs next to the
bluffs. Tho valley proper ranges from
one to four milos in width and Is beau
tifully terraced. The uplands are
comparatively level, but are gently un-
dulatcd and present, to tho eye every
variety of form imagined.
The first settlement made In the
county was near Guide Hock, Anrll IP,
1870, by Donald McCallum and Eman
uel Peters About tin middle of May
of the same year the three darber
brothers, Silas, Joseph and Abram
joined thu settlement, Silas afterwards
bvooining governor of the ktate
During the year 1871 quite an exten
sive set t lenient was made. ( iiune was
plentiful and the settlers kept their
larders pretty well lllled. 187:2 711 saw
many now faces in tho settlement and
by this time all tho better government
lands had been taken and considerable
of the railroad land sold. In 1874 a
larco acreage wis planted to croiwuud
tho prospects were Umt thero would
be ii wonderful yield. In the latter
part of July tho grasshoppers came.
They came in countless millions
Every green tree, plant and shrub was
covered Not a vestige of vegetation
ivkisted their ravages. Their flight
obscured tho sun and tho pound of
their wings was likened unto the rattle
of tlio sabros of n squadron of cavalry
at full gallop. This was u time when
it tried men's souls. Many left tho
country, those remaining practiced
great economy, and tho privations they
endured will uercr bo known. Though
brave and uncomplaining many must
have Ktarved had it not tieen for help
so liberally glreii Uy more fortunate
states
April 10, 1871, tho first election wa
Held in tlio sod houwo of Kilns G arbor
aud tho location for the county seat
was decided upon
Tlio first regulnr election was held
October 10, 1871, and tho county com
missioners were authorized to issue
bonds in the sum of $2,000 for tho
erection of county buildings.
Tho first marriage in tho county was
that of Win. J. Norris and Huldu J.
Ilcnuecker, July 14, 1871.
Rev Penney preached the first ser
mon in thu county in 1871.
The llrst white child born in the
csnuty was nsou to Mr, and Mrs, W,
D. McKiuney.
The ii-st newspaper published was
the 1U. t 'loud Ciiiep, established July,
1873
Tho first liquor liconso was grunted
to Silas (1 arbor, March 20, 1872, for IS5
for ono year.
Two uw ssttlfl were orected in 1872,
one at Guide Hock aud the other at
Red Cloud.
Miss Mary Kinsley taught the first
school in a log houso near Guide Rock.
Tim first organized religious society
was the M. K church, on Penney creek.
inrnti!y.d bv Kev. O. W. Wells. All-
" i
gust 10, IS71 '
The supply of drinking water comes
from wells ami springs and Is of the
most pleasant taste. Good water ill
abundance can be secured lit almost
nny point and the supply cannot be
exhausted
There are at least sexenly live church
orgnuiatious in the county oiiImiIc "f
Hod Cloud and all denomination are
represent rd
The educational resources are good
and well tip to modern idea, ami as a
result we find a well educated people,
a sharp kilt scMvs citizuhip
The climatw or Webster connky can
scarcely lie exaggerated in words ll
is centrally located between the cold,
frigid north nnd the torrid, hot Miutk
mm... mmMi.i- ki'iireolv over nets ex
L.IU ..l.V..l. -....--,7 ..
tremely hot and the nights me always
pleasant during the warmest weather
The county has as good natural
roads its ono can find any where and are
as good ten months of the year as the
pikes of the older states.
The streams are spanned at. the more
important public crossing by substan
tial Iron and idle bridges
The soil or the bottoms and low ly
ing prairies is a dark sandy loam from
18 to HO inches in depth. Upland soil
Is from 10 to 2-1 Inches in depth and Is
as nearly as productive and for lasting
.qualities und fertility has no uqunl in
Minimum. It is warm, never bakes,
and Is especially adapted for all kinds
of cereals.
Verv best improved lands range in
WTWrrXtSm -'-"
ROYAL Baking Powder is indispen
sable to the preparation of the finest
cake, hot-breads, rolls and muffins.
Mousckcopers are sometimes importuned to
luiv other noMiers because they are " cheap.
' Housekeepers slwuU4 stop ami think. I (such
powders arc lower priced, arc they not inferior?
Is it economy to spoil your digestion to save
a few pennies?
The "Royal Maker and i'nstry
Cook" containing over 8oo most
practical imd valuable cooking re
ceiptsfree to every patron, bciul
postal card with your full address.
Alum is used in some bakuiR pow
ders and in most of the so-called
phosphate powders, because it is
then p.aiul makes a cheaper powder.
lint alum is a corrosive poison i which,
taken in food, acts injuriously upon
the stomach, liver and kidneys.
ROYAL BAKING rOWDER CO., 100 WILLIAM 8T., NCW YORK.
THE CITY OF RED CLOUD
A Thriving Metropolis That Sots
the Pace for Sister Cities.
mice from 815.00 to $.'15.00 per acre.
Stock farms, ranches and unimproved
lauds can bo had from 18.00 to lf.oo
per acre. Why should land with equal
fertility, a much better climate, sell at
theso prices when thf samo lauds with
less advantages in many of tho older
states sell at throe to four times theso
prices?
Tills county is known far and wide
us a cattle ralsiiiK and feuding section.
Many of the finest mid fattest or theso
animals that go into the eastern mar
kuts being raised in this section. The
stock is hiirh crude and is being im
proved from year to year
To the poultry raiser wo can say
that nowhere can poultry be rulstd
more successfully than here The
climate and surrounding conditions
are such iu to bo perfectly adapted to
this branch of industry. Just a short
drive into tho country will reveal bug
flocks or high grade turkeys, ducks,
geese and chickens surrounding every
farm house. .
ii.. t u. farmers- havi
....i I., incubators and at tin
itiimt'sii ii
BUSINESS INTERESTS REVIEWED.
And a Mention of Her Business
Now Alive.
Men
. ... -r . .....ll r.nvl are
heason iniiini'-""
be seen throughout the count ry
The breeds or cattle consist prlnci
pally or Horefords and Shorthorns.
The Poland China, Herkshlre mid
Durocs aro the favorite breeds of hog,
with other strains becoming promi
nent. Webster county farms product per
aero '.)" to 05 bushols of corn; 15 to 15
bushels of wheat; 115 to 55 bushuls of
oats; about 5 tons or alfalfa a season.
Tho county is traversed by tho 11. .t
M. It. Ky. from oast to wos.t, the N..v C
Hy. through the northern tier of town
ships iu tlio satno direction, and the
Mimouri Pacific touching tht uortk
oast corner, gives tlio county a total
length of hteel highway of nearly 70
miles.
A good, honest man with a small
capital oau come to Webster county,
get possession of an excellent farm by
paying one-third of its value in cash
und the remainder on easy payments,
lie can go to work at onco and moot
his obligations as nowhere can money
bo turnel as easily aud quickly as
here.
Neither political preference nr ro
ligious prediloctlon eut auy figure of
Rod Cloud's estimate of a newcomer.
The only quostion asked is us to
whether lie is a hustler. If he isn't he
might just us well puH right oh
tfiroui witbovt teed or wtr.
Tho city or Red Clond i aw aggres
fclvoly progressive city or about 1800
population. Thu Inhabitants uro
charming and ImspiUhle puople, wide
awake, ambitious and enterprising to
a degree that surprises visitors Ironi
all sections Thero is no apatliy or
ln.inuss among them, but oxeouding
vim, zeal and courageous energy char
notorize their every action They ox
toml the open hand or welcome to tlio
newcomer, aro frank, generous open
hearted, unselfish and sincere iu their
effort!, full of ooHiuiuroUl vim, level
headed anil far soeing, what wonder
tho city presents u scene or lire and
bustle that must make other places
hang their heads?
It Is the seat or government or Web-
become ........ un,i (H situated on the IS.
1: M. Ky., which gives to Its residents
to ,ii,.,.i .,,,..,.,1111111.11111111 to the uost. west
UllUlilil'UIHl"ui'. - '
and north, and las to their vcry;lora
tin, best, markets the world.
Rod Cloud has eight church edifices
occupied by the various denominations
aud evory opportunity Is offered to tho
ohrWt Ian people, as many or tho rosi
donts are, to accept and oiabruco tho
great and transcendent truths which
unerringly guide to that greater and
hallowed existence whtsu namoiseter-
nity.
The business housus aud dwellings
uro substantial structures of frame
and brick, many or them possesidiig
every improvement aud adoriimunt
known to modern architecture.
Tho city has a splendid water system,
with stand pipe and a direct pressure.
Mains and laterals run ta all purts f
tho city aud give to Its rosMenta tke
best of fire pcotoctlou.
llei Cloud has edunational facilities
which cauuot bo oxaelled UHywhore
It owns three public school buildings
aud twolve teachers are employed
Those schools with tho corps of In
structors offer the best educational
fuolllties anil as competent instructors
in teaching tho young Wen to shoot
and burnt forth Its bun" and blossom
into lifo.
All the iiromluont secret aud frater
nal societies are represented and each
have a good membership.
Thu uittata am bread, Uvl, well
graded, and tho sidewalks are or both
brick and lumber.
One or the notable enterprises is the
Interstate Fair held In Red Cloud
every fall. It has gained more than
locul promlnoncu nnd tho succens u
has attained insures its popularity fr
tho future.
The city has two banks, each con
servatively managed and with good
working capital. It also has threo
weekly and ono monthly nowspapers.
Thero aro about soventy-flvo nusl
hums and professions represented in
tho wty, and the professions find as
able exponents as thero aro In the
entire west.
Thu city has no boom, but consider
able building is being contemplated.
Among them aro two largo brick busi
ness blocks a sixty-room brick hotel
and an opera house.
The dealers bore have rree ami di
rect access to tho markets or tho world
and this being so tho merchants are
jiiktillud lu carrying larger stoeks or
goods than are usually found In ultlos
of this size. Visionary Individuals
cannot get along In Rod Cloud. This
is no Klondyko or Capo Noma region,
Tlio streots aro not paved with goldi
and you can't pick big yellow nugtfots
mil of the lfiitter or make a fortune In
a minute, but any legitimate business
enterprise coupled with energetic en
deavor on the part of tho promotor
will succeed.
Helow we give a roviow of the prom
inent and enduring businoss interests
of thoolty:
P A.HANSEN.
Il tliure id ono thing above all otlieru
that people are particular ahoia it is
their laundry work. They waul their
linen done up in first-class style, jmt
the kind of work turned out ly Mr. r.
A. Hanson, proprietor of thu steam
laundry. Ho has had long training
and experiunci) in this line of business
and guarantees unit gives satisfaction
to all his host of customer?.' Any work
left at his laundry will receive the best
of attention and out-of-town trade is
made a apeuial feature.
I. A. CREIGHTON, M. D.
Every city has its full quota ol physi
cian, hut Red Cloud is particularly
fortunate iu having in her midst an
array of the fraternity who aro indeed
a credit to tho profession. Among the
most pucoossful physicians wo might
mention tho name of Dr. K, A. Croigh
ten. Ho is a gjuduato of tho Western
Univeulty of London, Canada, anil
spent seven years in the courses of this
school receiving the silver mesial ai an
(L'oHtiuucd onpfc 4, pqrt J.)
X
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