Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-31

completed. The first man who ever slept
on the town site was Densmore, who shell
tered himself under a lumber pile.
In the following spring Qs70) Cornelius
Nye opened a tin shop in the new town,
and In the fall Lewis Ley left his dugout
store and opened a harness shop, Shortly
after Ley and Nye went into partnership
and erected a small building which they
occupied. During this same season John
Wright opened a saloon. The year follow
ing their opening, Kendall & Densmore
secured the Pleasant Run postoffice. 1t had
been located about a mile and a half west of
town and Frederick Helmerick had been
postmaster. The early resident still laughts
as he thinks OF the odd doings OF the old sea
captain, who mistook a floating log for a
shark and set forth to capture that fero-
cious animal which had dared disturb the
quiet Elkhorn by its presence. This is the
same individual also who flowed his water
melons to rot, under the impression that
hey would get yellow when the were
ripe. However, Mr.. Helmerick soon be-
came accustomed to the tricks of farming
and afterward became a justice in the
county.
The postoffice which they wanted was
the Clinton office, but they were unable to
SECURE IL, InOuBn Iuey OIlefeu fTeu blenlet
the postmaster, $40 for It. The actual fees
of the office amounted to about 81 per
year. William Kendall was the first post
master. John A., Bhrhardt next held the
position, who was followed in 1881 by Will
liam T. Mcfarland.
In 1863 a school house was built about
half a mile west Of town. The first term
was taught by Lew Taylor, who received
$50 per month. The school was attended
by thirty-five scholars, DR.. w. L. Bow
mar Of the United Brethren, preached the
first sermon in the school house. In 1870
Rev. j. w. Kidder of the Congregational
church held services in stanton
The first school in stanton was opened
in 1877 in a building owned by Mr.. Murphy,
which was taught by r. A. Frost. The
school continued to be held in the Murphy
building until 1850, when the front part OF
the present school building was erected
by the district at an expense Of 81, 800. In
1873 Lewis Ley started the stanton Bugle,
the first paper published in the county.
The first issues were set up and printed
in Omaha; then the printing was done at
West Point, and, finally. at Madison.
The village advanced with undisturbed
prosperity until 1881, when it's advance
ment received a severe shock in the cyclone
which passed over it September %, 1881.
About 2 o'clock in the morning a rumbling
sound warned the people of impending
danger, and shortly afterward the storm
struck the town, passing completely
through 1t. Fortunately, no lives were lost,
but the damage to property was great,
being estimated at $4,000. Twenty-slx
buildings were demolished or seriously In
jured. The enterprising citizens at once
set to work, however, to rebuild, and since
that time up TO the present the growth and
Improvement has been of the healthy.
steady variety which marks the distinction
between a boom, the bubble Of which may
burst at any moment, and the normal
progress of a thrifty and prosperous COM
munity.
The town Of Pilger is the only one be-
sides Stanton in the county. II is situated
near the eastern limits OF the county.
eleven miles from Stanton, on the North
western railroad. It was laid out In 1850
by the Elkhorn Land and Town Lot COM
pany. 1t has a population Of COO and
forms an excellent trading center for a
rich and progressive farming country.
Nearly all lines OF trade are well repre-
scented. Its citizenship is OF the highest,
and it's schools and churches are models
for a town Of it's size.
Stanton county has a population Of $500,
with a valuation Of 81. SCI, $50. The county
has one grist mill, four elevators and four
teen free rural delivery routes. The coun-
try districts are well supplied with tele-