The Holt County sentinel., 1895-06-07
ENTERPRISING CRAIG.
SIS, GOO to be Invested in q New
Flour Mill and Elevator Early
Recollections of This Thriv-
ing City of Holt.

hecollectlOnS OF This Thrlv-
ing City of Holt.
f. S. Browniield, the grain dealer and
elevator owner at Craig, has succeeded
In formulating plans, whereby our hus-
tliug sister city of Craig is to have a
large elevator of &C, 900 bushels capacity
and -four mill of 80 barre! capacity in
connection. \ number Of mill and e.e-
vator builders have been 10 Craig
plans, estimates, etc, and as
sooL as the protector Of this much need
ed enterprise, accepts plans and specifi-
cations, a large force will at once be
put to work, and hurried forward to
completion. We are truly glad to hear
OF this, because We are led to believe
that Mr.. Browntield's health has SO
greatly improved as to justify him in
extending his business,and also because
We are glad to see this additional evil
dence of our sister city's progress. 1t is
also thought the mill and elevator will
be lighted by electricity, as Craig is to
have electric lights in the near future.
The new venture of Mr. Brownfield will
require about $4,000.
We believe that A. p. Davenport
erected the first mill in Craig, and was
a ''two run" mill, and was built in 1874
Fred Myers and DR.. j. L. Johnstun in
the same year built the first elevator.
Its capacity was 10000 bushels
This now enterprising little city was
laid out in the fall of 1868. (the Kansas
City st. Joseph & Council Bluffs rail
road being completed to that place in
the summer Of that year, by Christ
Schultz and Robt W. Frame and Sam.
Ellsworth. The two former were selling
goods IN house one and three-four shs
miles northeast of the town site, and
they also kept the pcstoffice there which
was known as Tarkio. A w. Hawley
was the first to sell goods in Craig, and
he put in his stock Immediately on the
laying out Of the town. Schultz & Frame
followed within a few weeks.
This TarkiO was neariy 4 mile below
"Big Spring." the resting place on the
great route from ST. Joseph over the
hills to Fillmore, Savannah, HOLSTERS
mill, etc, and was great trading point
and continued as such until Craig's
growing importance absorbed its bust
ness.
la September, 1868, J. 4. Orange
Jno. T. Shepherd was the first practic-
ing physician, and opened the first drug
store in the town. He was soon followed
by DIR. B. Meek and DR.. Hanlin. In
April 1870, DR.. J. l.. Johnstun struck
the town. and has still stuck to it,
Neil Hoblitzell opened the first lum-
ber yard there, and was in February,
1875.
Charley Doughty was the first in the
town to engage in the business OF "teach-
ing the young ideas how to shoot" The
school house was in frame building on
Frame street, and was afterwards owned
by the Christian denomination as
church.
The first livery stable in the place was
started by James Campbell some time
in 1862
Frank Blood was the first railroad
agent. We believe the present agent,
Mr.. Hunter, began his services as agent
some time in 1872.
The postoffice was established in 1868,
and Christ Schultz was the first IN that
city to write p NJ. after his name.
In 1877, Bilby & Heaton opened the
first bank.
The Methodist Episcopal church was
organized there in 1870. Abel and C. A.
Doughty and E. McQuilen we're the
promoters. This was followed in 1878
by Rev. DIR. Balm, who organized the NJ
E. church, South, who was ably assisted
by j. r. Sedwick. VIM. Price, S. Stan
field and Charley David. By the efforts
Of both the organizations, a neat gothic
frame church was erected in 1878, on
Third street. Rev. Duncan Brown or
ganized the Presbyterian church IN 1878,
assisted by DIR. S. S. Bacon. w. B. Will
SOD, A. NJ. Hunter, and Mrs. E. F.
WeIch. Their church building, brick,
was completed in December the same
year at cost of $4,000. Elder G. B.
Muliis organized the Christian church
IN February. 1880. He was aided by
Samuel Peters, II. Laughlin. E. DAVIS,
Moses Wright. In 1881 they purchased
the old frame school building for a
house of worship.
Craig suffered from the flood Of 1881,
and In April Of that year, the Missouri
river had risen to Its maximum. which
was two feet higher than the flood OF
l84i, and water stood two or three feet
deep upon the streets OF our progressive
sister city. Among the incidents OF the
food was corn crib 60xl2x12 feet foated
from its foundation and passed on in its
rapid course southwark from town upon
its roof was large flock Of chickens, in
The midst of which was solitary skunk,
30 appalled, at his desolate surroundings,
that he was unmindful OF the feathered
feast within his reach.
In April 1881, Craig was chartered as
a city OF the fourth class. and Robt. w.
Dawson was the mayor.
In point OF commercial importance,
Craig is second to none in our county,
and her business men and the farmers
who contribute to her prosperity, had
on deposit in the two banks now IN the
city, during last month. the handsome
sum OF sl26.l23SO, or approximately
about one fifth the entire deposits OF
the county. Surely no better evidence
Of her prosperity could be offered, when
it is considered that there are nine
banks OF deposit in the county.
May she continue to prosper, is the
sincere wish of The SENTINEL, and may
Mr.. Brownfield live long and enjoy his
highest expectations in his new business