could be Buffalo's crossing the platte

 Research Papers


Today is:

Various News Items


Grange Hall to Logan Township
 

(New Era Standard – Feb 4, 1898)
A Grange Hall from Dawson County was moved across the county line to Logan Township to be fixed up to be a church. Al Brodine was heading up this effort.

[From Logan Township file - Fairview Christian Church
7 miles north of Elm Creek on east side of Highway 183
Christian Church established in 1904]

A Mad Official
 

(Dec. 21, 1889)
Judge Learn scrubbed his court room, kept a fire going all night so the floor would dry.
Next morning when court was in session loafers “spit and spat”.
When court was over a reporter came in to get the news.
The judge was so angry the reporter left for fear of hearing some cuss-words.
Only the dignity of his office kept him in check.

[Summer 1889]
 

[ Swift justice – less than 24 hours]
Two fellows from Lincoln came into Kearney with their covered wagon and parked it near the Junction barn, where ever that was, that evening leaving their possessions in the wagon.

When they came back, a Winchester rifle was missing.
They reported the theft and a suspect was followed.
He sold the rifle and was promptly arrested and put in jail.

The next morning he appeared in court, plead guilty and was sentenced to 30 days.


[Committed the crime, captured, tried, convicted, sentenced within 24 hours]

Poker Players Caught
 

12:30 a.m. two Kearney policemen raided a gambling room over Philips Plumbing on 21st St. They had been watching for some time.
They went up the stairs in stocking feet.
Found a group playing poker, arrested them all.

Judge Learn was notified and held police court between 1 & 2 o’clock.

One pled guilty and was fined $24.70.
The other 4 pled innocent so the judge proceeded immediately to trial.

The policemen provided evidence.
All were convicted and each fined $24.70.
One person, a spectator, was not arraigned.

Big Real Estate Deal
 

[Boom Period – businesses coming to town]
• Taylor & Bing of Lincoln opened a rubber stamp business over Harrington’s dry goods store.
• Several businessmen had visited Kearney thinking to start businesses but could not find rooms.
• One prospective business was a fruit store.
 

The West Kearney Improvement Company sold 1200 lots to wealthy men in the East represented a principal New England banking firm in Springfield, Mass.

The sale was estimated to be over $200,000 with $67,000 to be paid in cash. $10,000 was paid in earnest money until the representative of the purchasing syndicate could get back east to complete the deal.

It’s probably the largest land deal ever in Kearney and one of the largest in the state and is a good deal because:
1. The buyers are some of the richest men in the East
2. The property will be sold in small lots to other rich people who will improve it.
3. Many people will come to Kearney to look at the land and possibly make other investments.
4. These people will then become talkers, workers and boomers for Kearney.
5. Leading representatives of eastern capital will be connected to Kearney thus opening avenues to money sources.

A Gigantic Scheme
 

Project will rank up there with the cotton mill and the Kearney Canal.

April - Some Kearney business men gained control Victoria Mineral Springs Company

Owned mineral springs in Victoria in Custer County 80 miles away.
        [Victoria Springs State Park]
15 springs located on Victoria Creek,
Produce salt, white & red sulpher, iron, soda, and magnesia.
One throws out rocks and earth for two hours before a rain or snow storm, otherwise runs clear. Called the barometer spring.

The springs are valuable because the water could be converted into

Medicated ginger ale
Lemon seltzer
Soda pop and such drinks
Good medicinal properties as well as good to drink.
[There were notices that people could drop by their office for a sample drink.]

Col. Bob Greer – treasurer of Victoria Mineral Springs Company

Leading business man in Kearney
Came in 1873 – in mercantile business
Successful business, invested in land in Buffalo County
Closed business in July 1889 [at time of this story]
A director of Nebraska National Bank – President of State Agriculture Society

Greer had been wracking his brain and losing sleep over the problem of how to get the water over 80 miles of hilly country from the springs to Kearney.

July - Great big camp meeting (revival)

He noticed that water was brought to the campground in iron pipes.
Temporary, laid on the ground instead of being buried.
This gave him an idea.

He wanted to lay an 80-mile long pipe line to bring the water to the city.

Get rights-of-way in all the streets and alleys of Kearney to lay a network of pipes to all the homes and businesses just like the city water system.

All people have to do is turn on a faucet in their homes to get this mineral water.
All the pipes would be quadruplex, like a 4-barreled revolver
People have a choice of ginger ale, lemon seltzer, soda pop, or plain mineral water.

Work was to start immediately so it would be done in time for the G. A. R. reunion.
He did not ask a subsidy from the city as so many other businesses planning to be established in Kearney have.

Greer, as president of the State Agricultural Society
Sure when he presented his plans to them they would agree to move the State Fair to Kearney

        since no other city could provide it with mineral water.

For sale:

Capt. Tisdel offers his base ball suit at half the actual cost of the material used in it. Here’s a chance to get a large awning at a trifling expense.

James Tisdel –

Born in New York,
Raised in Belvidere, Illinois – Served in Civil War
Operated a boarding house there – 15 persons (including 2 children)
        One man a “Minister of Joseph”
Rock Springs, Wyoming – superintendent of a coal mine, 3 boarders
Kearney – real estate & loan business

City Council about June 1889-91 (a 3-year term?)
        They questioned burial of 14 dogs & 9 cats
        Tisdel was appointed High & Mighty Dead Dog Inspector to look into the matter.
Chief of police
        A new policeman came in one day and said he had forgotten his gun.

        Capt. Tisdel said that was no problem, “Bring ‘em alive. Bring ‘em alive.”

Baseball game – Late July

Leans vs. Fats.
A benefit - Half the proceeds to the base ball association; half to the band stand funds.

Special uniforms of ticking with red stripe,
        Up and down for the Leans,
        Around for the Fats,
        Both directions for the Umpire. (shirt only, black tights)

One Umpire not familiar with the game
        Said to not know the difference between a ball diamond and a tennis court.

        Hinted that he has been bought by the Fats.

Procession (parade) up Central Ace to the ball park

Led by the umpire
Midway Military Band
Official scorers
Fats team
Carriage of physicians
A beer wagon
Leans Team
Boys with sponges, court plaster, arnica (first aid supplies)
Mayor
Squad of uniformed police
Hearse
Sexton Swisher – the grave digger

Leans won, 33-32. Tisdel scored 3 times, one a home run
The day after the game Tisdel’s uniform was advertised for sale. [No info on his stature]

For sale. Capt. Tisdel offers his base ball suit at half the actual cost of the material used in it.

        Here’s a chance to get a large awning at a trifling expense.

 


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