Published in The Journal January 8, 1902

George, son of Henry C. Bean of this vicinity, has recently engaged as foreman of Buffalo Bill's ranch at North Platte.


The Columbus Journal January 22, 1902

J.H. Drinnin, notwithstanding that he is somewhat along in years, came to town Monday for the first time on his bicycle. This was his first extended ride, although he had been wabbling around for some time at home. "Never too old to learn."

L. Hahn has entered into contract with Leopold Jaeggi for the E. 1/3 lot 7, block 58 on Thirteenth street, and will occupy the premises for a bakery. He is an expert in that line, among the first bakers of Columbus, and was employed by Marshall Smith.

V.C. Connelly, who is charged with assault with a razor, upon Andrew Christianson at a livery barn night of December 31, at Lindsay, had his preliminary hearing before Justice Hudson Monday. Bond to district court was fixed at $1,000, in default of which, the accused was returned to jail.


The Columbus Journal January 29, 1902

H.E. Babcock will accompany Fritz Jaeggi to New York next week, where they will interest capitalists in the promotion of the power canal. There seems no doubt now that some time in the near future Columbus will have a great power. The business men of this as well as other cities are deeply interested.


The Columbus Journal February 5, 1902

A young man named Harris, who had been working for Mr. Buschman, is quarantined for smallpox at the corner residence, opposite and west of the Presbyterian church, the quarantine being placed Saturday. The young man's father is with him. The case is a light one.

Postmaster Kramer has been authorized by the postal department to take the names of applicants as letter-carriers for a free delivery. This is all that is known so far, but it is presumed that the rural delivery will soon follow, either on the road north going out toward H.H. Hunteman's or on a north and east route past Drinnin's. The government officials say the examination, so far as scholarship is concerned, will be extremely simple and practical, only sufficient to test the applicant's ability to read and write, and must reside directly on or within the territory to be supplied by the proposed route.


The Columbus Journal February 12, 1902

From Washington reports of original pensions issued to Nebraska, we see that Abraham Tschudy, Columbus, who was a soldier in the War with Spain, has been granted a pension of $8.


The Columbus Journal March 12, 1902

The hunters at the wolf round-up on the south side of the river Wednesday got one lone wolf for their pains.

All the school buildings in the city were thoroughly fumigated, and disinfectants used, last Saturday.

The residence of Jacob Glur on Eighth street was quarantined Saturday last, his daughter, Bertha, aged 15, being afflicted with a light attack of smallpox.

The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Priebe has the smallpox.

Will, Clifford and Miss Ethel Galley are down with the smallpox, all light cases.

Ray Young was taken with smallpox and a quarantine was placed on the house, one mile north of town, last Wednesday. His case is light. He had been sick several days before it was known that he had the smallpox.


The Columbus Journal March 19, 1902

At the mass convention Saturday evening in Firemen's hall, the democracy of the city was present in strong force. Walter Phillips presided and Editor Johannes was secretary. The following ticket was nominated: Louis Held for mayor; Wm. Becker, clerk; Carl Hoehen, treasurer; councilmen, First ward, Louis Phillipps; Second, Wm. Poesch; Third, J.M. Gondring (who afterwards declined to run, but whose place has not yet been filled by the committee); R.L. Rossiter, city engineer; H.J. Hudson, police judge; W.N. Hensley, member of school board. The central committee are: At large, Edgar Howard; First ward, August Dietrich; Second, L.H. Leavy; Third, Frank Gleason.


The Columbus Journal March 26, 1902

DIED
The bodies of the two women drowned at Schuyler Tuesday of last week, have not been recovered. Madison Fleak, the driver of the team going into Schuyler, is about 22 years old, and his father is engaged in the livery business at Schuyler. He has been arrested, charged with the crime. "Public sentiment," says the Schuyler Quill, "is quite strong against him, and it is said that had he been known on the day of the drowning, he might have been strung up."


The Columbus Journal April 9, 1902

DIED
RIMEY--A special from Schuyler to the Omaha Bee says: "The body of Mrs. Frank Rimey, one of the two women who were crowded off Platte river bridge two weeks ago and drowned, was found embedded in a sandbar two miles below the bridge and about a rod from the south bank of the main channel. Joseph Smatian and Harry Moore were hunting geese, and Moore was securing one bird brought down when he discovered the heel and part of the bottom of a shoe protruding from the sand. Little suspecting what an investigation would disclose, an attempt was made to move the shoe, which resulted in the discovery of the body. Officers were notified and the body was excavated, being found to be in a good state of preservation, having been thoroughly covered in the wet sand."


The Columbus Journal April 16, 1902

A. Luth has been employed at a salary of $20 a month to keep Frankfort square in good order for six months commencing April 15.

William Seiffe is now in the county jail at David City, under a charge of bigamy. A dispatch says: From the evidence it seems that some time during the summer of 1901 Seiffe met Miss Nellie Engeart of Bellwood in Omaha and made love to her, saying he was a single man. Some time later in the season Seiffe came to Bellwood and, as he says, married Miss Engeart, not in the usual way, but each signing an agreement to take each other for better or worse, alleging this to be a common law marriage. Some of Miss Engeart's relatives suspicioned that the marriage was crooked and began an investigation. They allege to have learned that Seiffe has a wife and two children about 12 and 14 years of age now living in Chicago.


The Columbus Journal April 23, 1902

DIED
GUTER--Jacob Guter was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, November 19, 1828. He came to America in 1852, and to Columbus in 1856, when the town company came out. They were Vincent Kummer, captain; Charles Turner, surveyor; John C. Wolfel, carpenter; Fred. Gottschalk, Jacob Guter, Carl Reinke, Henry Lusche, Michael Smith, Adam Denk and John Held, privates.
He was twice in the west, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, prospecting for gold, finally settling on land just east of this city where he resided until his death.
In 1856 he was married to Miss Rosa Egger. To them were born five children: Jacob, William, Emma (Mrs. John Tschantre) of Valley, Nebr., August and Mary (Mrs. John Pittman), who survive, except William, who died, March 28, 1894.
On February 10, 1894, Mr. Guter suffered a stroke of paralysis, followed, two years later, by a second stroke, from which he never fully recovered.
He was able to be around but was partially paralyzed on the right side, while his vocal cords were considerably affected. Up to the time of his death he complained but slightly, and that three days before his dissolution. Saturday night he appeared as well as ever. After supper, he walked around the yard, seeming well. Early Sunday morning, April 20, however, when August, his son, went to his bed-room to see how he was, he appeared as asleep, having died without the slightest struggle. His body was still warm when found but a doctor, hastily summoned, said that life was extinct.
The funeral takes place this Tuesday afternoon, April 22, the procession leaving the residence one mile east of the city at 1:30, services at the German Reformed church at 2 o'clock, Rev. Neumarker officiating.
The pall-bearers were: L. Phillips, George Galley, Henry Loseke, Gus G. Becher, F. Brodfuehrer, L. Jaeggi.
Mr. Guter was a man of very decided views and of warm friendships. There was nothing too good for him to do for his friends, and his memory will be cherished by his many acquaintances.

[Mr. Guter was one of the original 13 founding fathers]
The Columbus Journal April 30, 1902

George Hagel has purchased the lot east of Cassin's on Thirteenth street and will erect on it a brick building, two stories high, for use as four bowling alleys. Everything will be in first-class style. The building is to cost $3,000, and James Pearsall and James Fauble have the contract.

This week Hulst & Adams are going to put in forty more hitching posts near their store to accommodate their fast increasing trade. There are now about fifty hitching places on both sides of their store but a visit to their large store on any Saturday will convince one that even forty more posts will not be too many.


The Columbus Journal May 14, 1902

There is always opportunity for the exercise of a man's genius. We had even supposed that the street-crossing west of Niewohner's on Olive street was intended by the authorities to show those who pay the city's bills what might be done at every crossing, for the price available in the treasury, but when we came to talk with Jacob Glur, commending his work for all the good apparent, viz: the deep foundation of brick-bats, pounded down; the strong, thick layer of cement, which with proper time given to set, will increase in solidity as time goes by, we found that his ideal mental picture of a crossing, costing less perhaps, considering all things, than the actual one under our feet, was a long stride forward. Stand up for the city.

The 60-foot wooden bridge on the Union Pacific one and a half miles east of Schuyler was so badly damaged by fire Friday last that it was considered unsafe for the passage of trains, and this condition continued for nine hours, trains going round in the meantime on available routes. Conductor Murphy was the first to notice the burning bridge. The supposition is that a spark from some passing train had found lodging and fuel in the bridge.


The Columbus Journal May 21, 1902

B.T. Towner, one of the proprietors of the Twelfth street billard hall, had stolen from him Sunday three cashed checks amounting to $19.32 and about $5 in silver. The money was in a shot sack in the owner's coat pocket lying on a shelf back of the counter. The money advanced on the checks was to railroad men, and the company has been notified to stop payment thereon. Mr. Towner came here recently from Silver Creek.

Thursday evening last the hour when M.K. Turner, editor of The Journal, left the office for his residence at his farm north of the city, he was suffering considerably from the effects of hernia, (which has caused him more or less trouble for some time) and his condition since has been such as to cause his family and friends considerable anxiety. Employes in the office will use their best endeavors in taking his place until such time as he is able to resume his labors or other arrangments are made.

The graduating class at Platte Center this year contains but two pupils, Etta Hoare and Walter Bloedorn. The exercises will be held on the evening of the 4th of June.


The Columbus Journal May 28, 1902

Frank Fleming, one of the Civil war veterans, has made application for an increase of pension. He has been drawing $8 per month. He served with a Wisconsin regiment.

Roy Page was arrested in Clarks last Tuesday by Sheriff Byrnes, charged with forging the name of Henry Lubker to an order on E.D. Fitzpatrick for $12.50 worth of graphophone records. When arrested he was also in possession of a horse and buggy stolen by him from parties in Omaha. He was taken there for trial.

A farmer named Bedinger, living near Humphrey, was fined $10 and costs in the county court Thursday last on a complaint preferred by Detective Vizzard of the Union Pacific. Bedinger was charged with stealing a load of railroad ties valued at $12. The property was returned, and altogether it proved a rather unprofitable experiment.

DIED
TURNER--Died at the family residence in this city Thursday evening, May 22, 1902, at 8:20, Moses K. Turner, editor of The Columbus Journal, in the 64th year of his age, his death caused by hernia and acute liver trouble.
Moses Kennedy Turner was born at Cadiz, Ohio, June 23d, 1838, and died at his residence in this city May 22d, 1902, after an illness of about ten days, well along in his sixty-fourth year. He received an education in the common schools, and at the age of 16 commenced teaching, attending the colleges of Antioch (under Horace Mann) and New Athens during vacations. Was superintendent of the Cadiz schools and also superintendent at West Liberty, Ohio, which position he resigned in 1864 to enlist in the United States army, and saw several months of service in the Civil war, mostly in the Shenandoah valley.
In 1869 he studied law in the office of his father, Judge Allen C. Turner, and later passed the examination required by the state board and was admitted to practice. In 1870 he came to Nebraska locating here, and in May of that year formed a co-partnership with his father and established the Platte Journal, later changing the name to The Columbus Journal, the management of which he continued until the time of his death.
He was a member of the Sixteenth session of the state legislature, serving this district as senator, elected over the late Hon. Guy C. Barnum. In 1884 ran for congress in this district in a three-cornered race and was defeated by only a few votes.
His attention was largely given to the editing and publishing of The Journal, which has the distinction of being the oldest paper under the same editorial management in the state.
In conducting his paper he never allowed personal feeling to enter into his writing; his policy was to search for the good in each person and help to encourage them to do better by praising the good qualities. There are few lines in professional life that admit of a chance for personal vengeance as does the newspaper, yet he never allowed this to interfere with what he considered his duty. Indeed, he held no resentment in his nature and was never known to slander the character of another. Many times when a disgraceful act was made public, and talked about, he would delay writing about it until almost time for printing, hoping to be spared in some way, a painful duty. In all his local news-gathering he never intentionally published matter that would seem to invade the privacy of home. The golden rule, which he held as a standard for life, was truly lived in thought and action.
The Journal has lost its pilot, the public has lost a friend.

The Columbus Journal June 11, 1902

William Hewitt was appointed as an extra policeman to help preserve order, for Saturday and Sunday.

C.A. Whaley's new two-story brick building on Nebraska Avenue to be used as a steam laundry is nearing completion and presents a fine appearance. The workmen are now ready for the roofing to proceed.


The Columbus Journal July 9, 1902

The rainfall as reported by C.C. Gray for the month of June, 1902, was 7.92 inches. For the same month last year 3.34 inches.

Monday evening L.G. Zinnecker received from the east and placed in position the new fixtures for his barber parlor on Thirteenth street, and it is now one of the neatest and up-to-date places of the kind in the state.

The following from the Platte Center Signal may concern a good many of our readers and if heeded may save them trouble and expense: "Numerous complaints have been made by farmers living along lower Shell creek about the dangerous and inexcusable nuisance of throwing dead animals into the creek. A petition has been circulated among the prominent farmers of lower Shell creek and business men of Columbus, which petition sets forth that unless the practice of throwing dead animals into the creek is abated the malefactors will be arrested and punished according to law. We extend this warning to the farmers living along Shell creek in this part of the country for the reason that the petitioners have a stringent law on their side and they are determined to enforce it. The habit of throwing dead animals into streams is a criminal offense and should not be tolerated in a civilized community. It spreads contagion of disease to man and beast, and the quicker an example is made of a wrong-doer in this direction the better it will be for the community."


The Columbus Journal July 16, 1902

Workmen began the papering and renovating of the Methodist church Monday morning

Chester Clark of Cadiz, Ohio, came up from Omaha Wednesday where he has been filling a position in the Union Pacific yards, and is visiting relatives, the Turner families. Chester has the distinction of being the first American soldier to land on Cuban soil in the recent war with Spain.


The Columbus Journal July 23, 1902

Wm. Poesch has added a baker's oven to his confectionery store. This will make the fifth bakery in the city. Pretty near as many as there are newspapers


The Columbus Journal July 30, 1902

When Hulst & Adams shall have completed the re-arrangment of their fine store, they will have a floor space of fifteen thousand one hundred and twenty square feet, making it the largest store in the city.


The Columbus Journal August 6, 1902

George J. Hagel went to Omaha Thursday to see the Wild West show, and while there he placed an order for three fine bowling alleys for his new building on Thirteenth street which will soon be ready for occupancy.


The Columbus Journal August 20, 1902

Ulrich Langenegger has purchased the Lindell hotel property on Eleventh street of Mrs. Nancy Hulst, taking charge of the business last Friday. Mr. and Mrs. August Merz, who have been the lessees of the hotel the past three and a half years, moved last week to their newly built home west of the court house. The Lindell has been a well patronized hotel and will continue to be under the new management. Mr. Langenegger expects to put repairs on the building some time soon.


The Columbus Journal September 3, 1902

F.B. Lenhart, coming from Illinois, has secured a license from the city to conduct a candy, pop-corn and nut stand on the vacant lot between Geo. Hagel's and Mrs. Jay's business places on Thirteenth street.

Ludwig Eslinger was run over and badly bruised about the head and body by a horse which became frightened at a threshing machine, last Friday morning. Mr. Eslinger was crossing the street in front of Schreiber's blacksmith shop and having defective hearing did not hear the animal approaching until he was struck. He was laid up for a few days, but will resume work again this week.


The Columbus Journal September 17, 1902

MARRIED
NORTH-SMITH--Hon. J.E. North of this city was married last Wednesday in Sioux City, Iowa, to Mrs. L.D. Smith of Hillsdale, Michigan, the ceremony taking place at the rectory of St. Thomas Episcopal church, Rev. Cornell performing the ceremony. Mrs. Smith is the widow of a former friend of Mr. North, the two in 1856 coming out to Council Bluffs together. Mr. and Mrs. North came to their home in Columbus Thursday and will reside in the northwest part of the city. They were recipients of a serenade from the City band, Friday evening.


The Columbus Journal October 1, 1902

The bowling alley on Twelfth street owned by George Heller was opened to the public Saturday and was well patronized by local bowlers who pronouce the tracks all right. Ed. Hegemann will have the management of the hall.

A week ago last Thursday, Lester Jenkinson, a pupil of Mrs. U.S. Mace in the Second ward school, was punished for disobedience by Prof. Lake at the request of Lester's teacher. The following Monday, comlaint was filed with the county judge by the boy's father, R. Jenkinson, for assault, against Prof. Lake, and the case was brought up for hearing Saturday afternoon, continuing until 12 o'clock Saturday night and Monday morning, when at noon the complaint was withdrawn before the case was left to the decision of the jury. It is deplorable that such an affair should be brought into court. Lester had received his punishment after school on Thursday and the same evening did his regular work of driving the town herd of cows. He has not been absent from school any day and although the complaint stated that the punishment had been very severe, no scars or bruises were visible on his body a few days after. As a result of the strain for several days and of being on the witness stand for over two hours Mrs. Mace is ill and will be unable to teach again. Her father and sister were telegraphed for arriving Monday, and will take her home with them as soon as she is able to travel.


The Columbus Journal October 22, 1902

Robert Welch began Saturday to take orders for number signs for houses in this city. After the houses are numbered, which will be in about six weeks, we will be in a position for a free delivery of the mail.


The Columbus Journal November 5, 1902

The county board of supervisors met Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. Among other business transacted was the granting of a saloon license to Borowiak & Koglowski for the village of Duncan. The inhabitants of Cornlea petitioned the board for the incorporation of that place as a village, which was acted favorably upon and the following persons were named trustees: Jacob Olk, William Berg, H.C. Bender, John Terdus and L.S. Marty.

John Fulton, a farmer near Lindsay had the marshal of that town, John Bolt, arrested for breaking his, Fulton's, nose in an attempt to arrest him while drunk several days ago. The case was tried before Justice Wagner last Thursday and the case dismissed with a decision of no cause for action. About sixteen witnesses were examined at the trial and about twenty people interested in the case were present from Lindsay. The marshal had previously preferred charges against Fulton for resisting an officer and the case had been carried to the district court.


The Columbus Journal November 12, 1902

Robert Welch and George Schram began Monday putting up the street number signs. They will be placed on telegraph or telephone poles, corners of buildings or posts set for the purpose.

E.T. Everett, manager of the Independent telephone line, expects to have several phones ready for use by the 20th of this month, and about all the city and country lines completed by the last of December. Work on putting in the poles north of town to Shell creek and from there to Platte Center and return will begin at once.

DIED
BORCHERS--One of the most cold-blooded and horrible crimes ever committed in Platte county was the murder of Gerhard Borchers, a well-to-do farmer living three miles northeast of Humphrey, a week ago last Friday. The murder was committed by the step-son, Herman, who had purchased a shot gun the Wednesday before for the premeditated purpose of taking the life of his step-father. Two younger boys were parties to the crime, but claim that the elder one committed the deed. The boys are Herman, aged 14, August aged 12 and John, 8 years old.
Mrs. Borchers, the mother of the boys, died last spring leaving an infant and four other children to mourn the loss of a mother and wife. His intense feeling in the death of his wife deeply affected Mr. Borchers and the gloom and sadness that pervaded the home is probably the cause of this unnatural occurrence. It is hard to believe that three young boys could have planned and executed so dreadful a crime without the sad condition of absence of kind home influences.
The story as told by the boys, after going through a cross-questioning by Sheriff Byrnes, is about as follows: The boys bought a shot gun the Tuesday before, hiding it in the barn. About 9 o'clock Friday morning Herman quietly slipped up behind his step-father, firing about six inches from his head killing him instantly. The boys then dragged the body out of the house, thence to an old straw stack, and placing a load of fresh straw on top of the body, set fire to it. On Saturday the boys went to town and wanted to purchase a water tank of a merchant, but he refused to sell it to them without an order from their father. The boys stated that did not know where their father was, that he had left home. Friends of Mr. Borchers were notified, and after a search the charred body of the man was found in the burned straw stack.
Sheriff Byrnes was notified and a close investigation made. After cross-examination of the boys the above story was got from them.
The coroner's jury composed of D.T. Robison, Charles Schueth, Nels Peterson, Peter O'Shea, Jacob Fischer and Con Heesacker, with Dr. McKinley as acting coroner, rendered a verdict accusing Herman Borchers of the crime and implicating August and John as parties to the murder by the fact that they knew and had discussed among themselves and pre-arranged the murder.
Herman and August are in the jail here but John, the youngest son, was allowed to return home with his uncle, George Borchers. The deceased was highly respected by all who knew him and was never known to be cruel to his family. He was about 53 years old and a native of Germany.


The Columbus Journal December 17, 1902

Thomas McTaggert, one of the night policemen of this city was found lying unconscious, a little before 8 o'clock Saturday evening, between the tracks at the Union Pacific railroad crossing on L street. He was first discovered by Joe Baumgartner and a brakeman on the Union Pacific passenger train who reported immediately at the depot. It is thought he had been lying in that condition for perhaps fifteen minutes before found. His head was cut badly in several places, his eyes and neck swollen and he was bleeding freely. It was several hours after he was taken home before he gained consciousness, and he is still quite sick from the effects of the bruises and cuts. It is not known who made the assault but the guilty man will probably be apprehended as soon as Mr. McTaggert is able to talk to those about him.


The Columbus Journal December 24, 1902

A letter to friends from Miss Louise Trader, a graduate of the Columbus High school, and a niece of Mrs. J.D. Brewer, tells of the successful "proving up" of her homestead farm claim in Oklahoma. Her land is in a basin supposed to be the crater of an extinct volcano and recently excavations have been made for ore. A mining village has been incorporated on Miss Trader's land which has been named Craterville. Her sister, Palma, has also a valuable claim.

The public sale of Henry Huntemann on the 9th was largely attended and everything sold well. Horses brought $165 a head. Cows an average of $30 and one year old hogs sold for an average of $10. The farm machinery and household furniture did not bring quite so high prices but all together the sale was very successful.


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