Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-10-30
osceola NeL.. October 20. 1902.

N!th the little red brick courthouse
tight In the center, there is lot oil
busy men, who, in their thrift and en-
rgy, seem very much in harmony with
he life and character of John II
Mickey, republican candidate for gov.
'rnor, whose home is out there on a
arm right up against the suburbs OF
.he town. Mr.. Mickey commenced
'ere when the town commenced. He
was here when it was born. He built
he first dwelling house that was built
II Osceola, and has lived here ever
.ipce.
With a strong body and a clear
Drain, he was equipped for a tremen-
ious amount of work, and when the
20; pie of Polk county look back for
twenty-five years and realize what has
'een accomplished in the upbuilding
VI this community, they can see every
where the helpful influence of John
Mickey, whose courage never failed and
W. ose energy never relaxed
Look around here" said the hotel
leeper, the fiji st man you meet in Osce-
Va, Look around here, and what
ver you see that's good. John Mickey
nas been in it right from the start, and
has helped more than any other man
% make it what it is. If Mr.. Mickey
S elected governor the people will
'1d him the most practical man they
aver put into that office"
The history of John Mickey is the
history of the beginning of things in
his county. He made the first home
stead entry that was made in the
United States land Office at Lincoln.
He was one of the first two settlers in
he county. He helped to organize the
county and was it's first treasurer,
serving continuously for ten years.
He was the first assessor in the county.
he helped to organize the first school
district, district No. l. and was it's
first treasurer. He was one of the or
yanizers of the first church society in
he county. In good many of these
enterprises Mr.. Mickey seems to have
been not only one of the organizers,
but the one who thought out and
worked out the proposition from the
beginning Mr.. Mickey started the first
bank in the county and is still its presi-
dent. He was one of the organizers
of the County Fair association. He
has given the use of the grounds which
this association has occupied during
the last twenty years, and was one of
the chief contributors toward the cree
ton of the buildings which the asso-
,iation has used. He contributed SIS, 900
to the $4,000 Methodist church here.
Although an ardent Methodist, he was
broader than that, and his liberal con-
tributions have gone into nearly every
church structure in the county. It is
given out here on the best authority
that his church and school donations
In the last ten years amount to over
$4,000. This item, when it is con-
sidered that Mr.. Mickey is not particu-
larly wealthy over many others who
are well-to-do in this county. shows
something of the chief characteristics
Of the man to put himself and part of
what he has accumulated into what
ever is good for the people.
Mr.. Mickey was one of the Or
ganizers of the town of Osceola. The
World-Herald has charged that the
town was located on tract of railroad
land through his manipulation but the
facts are that it is situated on section
l6, which is school land On the school
board for many years, his influence has
been potent for everything that was
most progressive and practical in edu-
cation. Mr.. Mickey was one of the or
ganizers of the first G. A. r. post in
this county. His tender regard for
this organization and his helpfulness
to the old comrades brings from these
| Did soldiers, as will appear later, many
kind expressions toward him. and some
that are not so kind toward the World
Herald, whose representative. writing
from here recently, tried to show that
| Mr. Mickey had been neglectful as a
member of the G. A. r. to the interests
Of that order. His attention to all
the ceremonies of the G. A. r. and his
many kind acts toward needy veterans
has been recognized by the post here
1t Osceola, and for many years he has
been the one chosen to stand at the
head of the grave when the old soldier
vas being lowered into his final resting
place.
"He knows the ceremony by heart.
said Judge Saunders, prominent vet
ran of Osceola land we always know
hat we can depend on him. He is al
Ways ready to do whatever there is tC
10. no matter how difficult or how
asy the task. If anyone is sick, Mr.
Hickey is one of the first to find /
nut, and If you take pains to inquir,
'ou will find that his assistance is al
Ways practical"
Up to the time that Mr.. Mickey wa
FAMED as the republican candidate 70
oyernor, his high standing among tn
'eople of his own county had neve
jeen questioned, He had been her
lver thirty years, very busy man
having more or less to do with nearl,
,verything that was going on, and hi
lean life and high character stoo
nut conspicuously among the people o
POLK county. 1t was those thirty year
|