Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26

The general impression, therefore, that
one brings away after a visit to Valley
county is not only an impression Of cheer
fulness, Of prosperity, of extraordinary ma
terial progress, but a deep-rooted feeling
that there has been a misunderstanding of
the qualities and characteristics Of these
central Nebraska people, They have not
come to their own until these recent years,
and they have fallen into the habit OF
thinking that they were different from
other people. They are, Of course, like the
people of the north and the west, and 1t
needed only the touch of industrial pros
perity to reveal not only their kinship, but
their essential identity. In the sense in
which you have been accustomed to read
about it and to think about It, whether
you live in the east or the west, there is
no longer any Nebraska frontier.
Valley county is located not far from
the center OF the state and is in extent
twenty-four miles square. 1t is one Of the
best watered counties of central Nebraska,
being crossed and intersected by a large
number of streams. The North Loup river
is the principal watercourse, and is from 400
to 500 feet in width, having quite a rapid
flow of q large volume Of water. The
Middle Loup flows across the southwestern
part VI III GuhtA9 Wv bONNNAA AeAAA SNA
valleys along the streams are broad and
very fertile. These level valleys vary from
three to ten miles In breadth. 1t is esti-
mated that fully so per cent Of the area Of
tie county is we'll adapted to crop raising.
The remainder is a rough and billy region
affording the very best of grazing land.
The first actual settlement in the county
was in April and May, 1872, when a small
party of Danes from Wisconsin settled on
the west side of the North Loup river,
about two miles north of the present town
of Ord. The party consisted of Peter
Mortensen, Nels Anderson, George Miller,
Jeppe Smith and Fall Miller and his fam
lily. The next settlement was formed at
and around the present village Of North
Loup, by a Wisconsin colony Of Seventh
Day Adventists.
The winter of 1872 and 1873 was passed
quite pleasantly in these lonely settle
ments. In the spring of 1873 there was
quite an extensive immigration to the
county. The principal settlements were in
and near the North Loup valley, Quite a
settlement, however, was started In the
southwest part of the county on the Mid
die Loup river. The first settlers here were
J.. p. Brown, John McKeller and M. Coombs.
The spring and summer of 1874 were noted
lot QulA6 all ANl $500
year there were several fights with the
Indians, yet but one person was killed.
Owing to the Indian troubles General E.
O. C.. ord, then in command of the Depart
ment of the Platte, stationed a company
of soldiers in the northern part OF the
county. At the same time Fort Hartsuff
was established and work on the buildings
and the fertilization was commenced at
once. Early in the year of 1874 the town
of Ord was surveyed and building soon
commenced, 1t was in 1874 that the grass
hoppers destroyed the crops in this part Of
Nebraska.
The first postofflce in the county was
established at North Loup in the fall OF
1879 and Oscar Babcock was appointed post
master. The first sermon vas preached
In the county at North Loup In May,
1879. by Rev. Oscar Babcoek. The first
schoolhouse was one built of logs in the
spring of 1873 at North LouP. The first
school in the county was taught here in