Published in The Columbus Weekly Telegram January 8, 1904
Secretary Brugger, of the board of education, appeared before the board of supervisors Wednesday afternoon to suggest that official action be taken toward the proper education of Mary Benson, a little Columbus girl whom he said to be growing up in illiteracy owing to the criminal negligence of the child's mother. Mary Benson is the Americanized name of the eight-year-old daughter of a Polish woman who lives in a cottage down near the river. For the past three years her name has appeared regulary upon the reports of Truant Officer Schmocker, and this lead to an investigation of her case. The mother promised faithfully to send the girl to the public or the Catholic parochial school, and repeatedly broke the promise, then the educational board decided to take a hand in the matter. For several weeks Secretary Brugger has been in correspondence with the state home for the friendless, at Lincoln. The officials there say they cannot receive the girl without consent of her mother, accompanied by a fee of two dollars a month, which the county must pay. Those posted in the matter say the county is under legal obligation to look after the child, and the county board has authorized Supervisor Held to take such course as he may deem advisable.
Walter Duvall, a transient resident of Columbus, was arrested by Officers Nelson and Meehan Monday morning upon an information from Schuyler charging him with stealing a revolver, belt and cartidges belonging to Deputy Sheriff VanHousen, of Colfax county. The stolen articles were found in Walter's possession, but he claims he bought them from a man at Schuyler. He was taken to Schuyler in the afternoon to face the charge filed against him.
The Columbus Journal, January 13, 1904
C.A. Church has been operating a saw mill the past few weeks, having the camp located in the Olcott Bros. grove south of Columbus. Farmers in the neighborhood have been hauling logs to be sawed up, and say that the lumber is much more satisfactory than that purchased in town. The camp presents quite a business aspect; farmers hauling trees for miles around to be made up for building and fuel purposes.
The Columbus Journal, January 20, 1904
Arnold Oehlrich has contracted with C.J. Scott & Son to put in a plate glass front in the store building on Thirteenth street, now occupied by W.E. Dunning as a dry goods store. The new front will be similar to that of the Dack drug store. Work will begin on the improvement about the 1st of next month.
The old settlers remember Richard Heitzman, a former resident here, and will read with interest the following from the David City Press: "Richard Heitzman and wife celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary last Sunday week. That they have lived happily is plainly evident from the fact that Mr. Heitzman weighs 290 pounds of good avoirdupois--16 ounces to the pound, while Mrs. H. makes the scales groan at 230 pounds. The Press wishes them many happy returns."
The Columbus Journal, February 3, 1904
F.T. Walker, about two weeks ago purchased from George Contor his 240 acre farm in Loup township, paying about $22.50 per acre for the place. Last Wednesday Mr. Walker sold the farm for $27 an acre to John Zonka of Benton. If this was an indication of the general rise in real estate, Platte county would need no canal power to give a boom to the community.
While Peter Dischner of Duncan was driving around the corner near Asche's store last Saturday afternoon, one of his horses was taken with a fit and died in less than ten minutes. Mr. Dischner was compelled to borrow a horse to get home with.
The Columbus Journal, February 10, 1904
George Henggler, who lives ten miles northeast of town on Shell creek, finished filling his new ice house last Saturday. He is fortunate in having a spring on his farm and has made a pond from which he gets his ice, which he says is of excellent quality this year and sixteen inches thick. He put up about twenty-five tons which will be enough to do him until next winter.
L.W. Snow has leased the Arnold Oehlrich store building on Thirteenth street which he will occupy with his book and stationery store about March 1. The building is being repaired and when ready for occupancy will be a first-class store building. Mr. Snow moves from his present location just west of Pollock's in order to have more store room.
The home of Charles Powell, colored, living int he northwest part of town, was searched last Wednesday for lumber, James Pearsall suspecting members of the family of stealing from him. The lumber was not found, but a new fur lap robe identified as one lost by THomas Boyd was found. The family claimed that the robe had been found by one of the boys on the street.
James Church and Frank Mackey were put under arrest Sunday on complaint of County Attorney Latham who alleges that Luluia Gollisoth, a girl not yet fifteen years of age, was held in custody by the defendants for three days and nights in the Grand Pacific hotel. The girl is making her home with her sister, Mrs. S. Grover, who, having missed her, made investigation which brought out the above information. The hearing in justice court comes off this Tuesday afternoon before Judge Curtis.
The Columbus Journal, March 2, 1904
Samuel Richards, of North Platte, was in the city Thursday and leased the Gottschalk store building on Eleventh street. As soon as the building has been repaired, he will put in a stock of general merchandise.
The Columbus Journal, March 9, 1904
The Columbus Cream company has purchased the dairy business from O.D. Butler & Son. The Butlers will keep the herd of cows and sell the milk to the Cream company. There is almost a larger demand for milk and cream than the Columbus dealers can supply, and farmers could secure a good income by making more of the dairy department on their farms.
John Burrell came up Monday night from the Lincoln penitentiary and is at home on parole for a visit.
Mrs. Coffey and family came down from near Monroe where they have been living several years, and moved their household goods Friday to their farm eight miles southeast of town, recently purchased by John Coffey. The place is known as the Clem Watkins farm. On account of the Platte bridge being out, they were compelled to ship their goods by train from Columbus to Bellwood.
Platte county land selling for $80 an acre has come to be a very common thing, observes the Humphrey Democrat. Last week Nick Fehringer sold his quarter section near Tarnov to John F. Tworek for $12,960 or $81 per acre. About four years ago Mr. Fehringer bought the land for $34 per acre and in those few years the land has more than doubled in price. Eighty-one dollars per acre is the highest price yet paid for Platte county soil.
Last week's dailies gave extensive space to an article in regard to a canal scheme advanced by Kansas City parties. They contemplate connecting the states of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma with the Gulf of Mexico by a navigable canal. They would have the government build the canal and believe the scheme would be valuable for power purposes as well as for shipping grain. The proposed route would run some where west of Columbus, so that we may yet have the benefit of a great canal.
The Columbus Journal, March 16, 1904
The old Harragraffen blacksmith shop, lately purchased by Frank Adams, is being remodeled this week by F.E. Davis and Stark Inghram. Back of a window casing they found moulds for coining counterfeit dollars.
John Burrell came up Monday night from the Lincoln penitentiary and is at home on parole for a visit.
S. Richards of North Platte is putting in a stock of general merchandise in the Gottschalk building on Eleventh street, and expects to be ready for opening day Friday of this week. Mr. Richards will not spend all of his time in Columbus, as he has a store also in North Platte where his family reside, but his father-in-law, L. London, who has been a resident of Columbus for some time and who has an interest in the business, will take charge of the store here.
The Columbus Journal, March 30, 1904
G.W. Johnson, a building contractcor of Lincoln, has purchased the Morrissey building on Eleventh street, vacated a few months ago by Henry Herchenhan, and began Thursday to make substantial repairs on the same. He will add a second story to the building, put in an entire new front with a stairway on the east side leading to the second floor and a large opening on the west side for the first story rooms. The interior will be put in first-class shape for store room purposes. Mr. Johnson has had several offers to rent the place, and will rush the work as rapidly as possible.
The Columbus Journal, April 6, 1904
Sheriff Carrig returned Monday evening from Utica bringing with him Cal Smith whom he has wanted badly for some time on a charge of horse stealing. The sheriff went to Exeter expecting to find his man there, but only to learn that he was twenty-two miles further on, at Utica. Smith was located by means of a prominent marks on his face and neck, which the sheriff had mentioned in the description sent out over the state sometime ago. The description was accompanied by a offer of $60 reward for the arrest and conviction of Smith.
The Columbus Journal, April 13, 1904
George Truman living near Genoa has for thirty years sent monthly reports of the weather conditions to the Journal, which are read with interest by the subscribers. When he began keeping the records for the government, he was the only weather reporter in northern Nebraska. Now nearly every county in the state has its reporter.
The Columbus Journal, April 20, 1904
The rooming house of Miss Frances Labin just west of the Presbyterian church was quarantined yesterday for scarlet fever, Louis Rinehart one of the roomers being ill with that disease.
Fred Witchy, working on the farm of Wm Kuntzelman northwest of Columbus was taken sick last Saturday and today his malady was pronounced smallpox by the physicians. The house was quarentined this afternoon.
The Columbus Journal, April 27, 1904
Agent Benham informs us that plans have been drawn for stock yards to be built at an early date, on the ground that is enclosed by the Union Pacific "Y" in the west part of town. The plans are being submitted to the various workmen.
The Columbus Journal, May 25, 1904
Otto Samuelson, a farmer of Newman Grove, plead guilty before Judge Munger, in the United States court, yesterday, to the charge of taking out of the postoffice a letter addressed to an employe and holding it for four days. He was fined $25. Samuelson, who is an old man, sent money to Sweden to bring over a man who went to work for him. The man left Samuelson's farm before he had paid by his work for the money which had been advanced him. Samuelson, thinking that by holding the letter, which had been sent from Sweden, he could force a settlement with his former employe, retained it in his possession, but did not open it, and, after four days, returned it to the postoffice.
More or less excitement has been caused within the last few days by a small pox scare. A few cases have developed within the city limits and as is usual, the danger has been greatly exaggerated. Up to date only five families have been placed under quarantine, with five cases in one family, nine in all. Thanks to the care of City Physician, Dr. D.T. Martin, every case is being carefully watched and a spread of the disease will be carefully guarded against. All the cases are of light form and not in the least dangerous. Public meetings have been stopped and the churches closed. There seems to be no cause to fear a general spread of the disease.
The Columbus Journal, June 8, 1904
The friends of Thomas Gentleman, cousin of Mrs. D.C. Kavanaugh and well known to Platte county people, will be interested in the following which appears in the World-Herald of Monday: “Henry C. Foster was found guilty of manslaughter, the jury being out five hours. Foster was tried for the murder of Thomas Gentleman, a watchman in the employ of the Union Pacific, who was shot in the groin by Foster. The latter had gone to the railroad yards for the admitted purpose of stealing coal. He claimed that the shooting was done in self defense, after Gentleman had made an assault upon him. Foster was remanded to jail to await sentence. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is ten years.
Kennedy & Snyder will move the tomb stone shop from their present location on Nebraska Avenue to Twelfth street just west of the Biene office.
The Columbus Journal, June 29, 1904
The home of John Shutt in the west part of town was quarantined this morning for scarlet fever, several members of the family having the disease. The residence of George W. Cleveland was also placed under quarantine for small pox, a stranger having come from Gretna over the B.& M. last evening to the Cleveland home, with the small pox disease fully developed all over his body. The physician in Gretna had not told the patient the nature of his illness.
The Columbus Journal, July 6, 1904
With the first of the month, rural mail carriers commenced to draw $60 a month.
The Columbus Journal, August 10, 1904
An old soldier by the name of Pine has purchased three acres north of town near Mr. Mahaffey's, and has commenced building on the same. He expects to plant the entire tract to grapes. Mr. Pine has quite a record as an old soldier. He was a member of the 7th artillery in Alaska at the time of the cession of Alaska to the United States by Russia, also a member of the 35th cavalry in Alaska at the time, serving in the regular service.
The Columbus Journal, August 17, 1904
Word has been received here that J.A. Ritter was sentenced to four years in the New York penitentiary. It will be recalled that Ritter was the man who was arrested on a charge of embezzlement and forgery, while conducting a shining parlor in Columbus under the name of Robinson.
Howard Clarke says that he will be glad to take some time with any one whose driving horses are afraid of an automobile to get them accustomed to the machine. A few minutes rightly spent will "automobile break" most any horse. Call at the State Bank and fix a date to meet Howard and break your horses. Automobiles are becoming more common daily. You cannot avoid meeting them always. You will find few chauffeurs as generous as Howard Clarke. Better take advantage of his offer. It may save you an expensive run away.
The Columbus Journal, August 17, 1904
BIRTH
WELCH--There has been strange stillness about Shell Creek postoffice for the past three weeks that is not generally prevalent under similar circumstances. Robert Welch has during this time kept very much in hiding and only when taken by surprise could we barely get a glimpse of him but aside from thinking it just a little strange, paid no more attention to it until Saturday morning when an auntie came into the postoffice and holding up a sweet little bright eyed baby girl of two weeks told the writer to look at Robert's baby, well we finally came too, or at least sufficiently to speak. The auntie in charge vanished, so with a determination to see Robert and find out all about how it happened, we stared out doors, but there was no Robert in sight. All was as still as death out doors, but on driving away we caught sight of Grandpa Welsh peeping through a crack in the old blacksmith shop, just as though he thought he might be to blame in some way. Now, we don't want to accuse Robert of being ashamed of his baby, for he might well feel proud of her. Perhaps it is just a slight embarrassment that he will overcome sooner or later, as the case may be.
The Columbus Journal, August 31, 1904
Ed Van Allen is the proud owner of a bran new $950 automobile. Ed is one of those fellows who believe in making others happy and is treating all his friends to a ride.
The Columbus Journal, September 14, 1904
Wm. Webster has the distinction of owning the first automobile in Monroe. It is a two-seated affair and certainly stirs up the dust. Mr. Webster drove it up from Omaha Monday.
The Columbus Journal, October 5, 1904
Dr. and Mrs. C.D. Evans went to Lincoln this morning and will join the Governor's staff there tonight for a trip to Seattle, to witness the christening of the battleship Nebraska.
The Columbus Journal, October 19, 1904
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Schroeder and daughter Miss Maggie are all suffering from a severe case of poisoning, caused from eating head cheese that was given them by friends. They partook of the meat at the supper meal night before last. Mr. Schroeder ate heartily of the food and was very ill all night but has recovered more rapidly than the other members of the family. Mrs. Schroeder and Miss Maggie are still confined to their beds. Mrs. Fisher, a neighbor who also received a portion of the same meat Monday, was very ill for a few hours, but did not attribute the cause at the time to the meat. It is not known what caused the poison in the meat, but it is supposed that as the animal was killed last week, it had perhaps not been properly cured during the warm weather.
The Columbus Journal, October 26, 1904
Henry Gass jr. is moving today into the residence east of the German Reformed church.
The Columbus Journal, November 16, 1904
NEW TELEPHONE LINE.--A new line has been added to the Independent telephone system, this one being connected with the south line, starting between the rivers and extending west to the Duncan neighborhood. Not many phones have been connected yet but workmen are busy today and will soon have many of the farmers in position to talk with the many patrons of the Independent company.
STAR ROUTE.--Star route, which accommodates farmers north and east of Columbus, will be discontinued December 1. A.L. Davies is the carrier, and has not yet decided what occupation he will pursue. The Star route patrons will be absorbed by the Richland route, No. 1 of Columbus and No. 1 of Creston. This change will leave some of the patrons of Star route a distance of two miles from their mail boxes. The Richland and Creston routes will be new lines started December 1. This will leave Columbus with one less rural route, Beardsley, Benson, Reed and Hall carrying the mail on the other lines
E.C. Fitzsimmons has commenced a damage suit against E.A. Brodboll, Will A. Bentley and Mayer Brothers of Lincoln for $250,00 [sic]. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants falsely and maliciously and without reasonable or probable cause had him arrested on October 12 for grand larceny and that he was duly tried and acquitted on that charge on October 22. He also alleges that he was injured in credit and reputation because of that arrest and that he was caused to spend ten days of his time and $150 of his money. For these alleged wrongs he asks the court to award him $25.000.
Bentley will be remembered as the Lincoln detective who arrested Fitzsimmons on a warrant issued in Lancaster county. Fitzsimmons was released on a writ of habeas corpus which was granted on the ground that Bentley acted outside the law in arresting Fitzsimmons.
The Columbus Journal, November 23, 1904
GAS PLANT--On account of a disagreement between G.A. Schroeder, owner of the lots east of the mill, and the new gas company, Mr. Miller, manager of the plant, decided to build elsewhere and yesterday afternoon purchased of L.F. Phillips a 33 foot front lot in block 119, which is west of the Hagel cold storage building. The property was purchased for $300. Brick which had been hauled to the lots east of the Schroeder mill were transfered yesterday to the newly purchased land, and workmen have begun the foundation for the building. Mr. Roth has the contract for the masonry.
Platte county candidates in the late election have filed their affidavits of expenditure for the campaign as required by law. Hugh Hughes spent $91.50, L.R. Latham $45, M.E. Clother $18.40. John Swanson $11.00, Fred Hoare $40.60, R.W. Hobart $26.35 and Louis Held $5.00.
(the above article is displayed as written, including all typing & spelling errors)
Click Here To Close Window
The excerpts in this area were obtained from the website - Platte County, Nebraska Researchers. You can find many of the newspapers on line by clicking HERE
