Boone County NeArchives History .....Boone County And Albion In 1879 July 24, 1879
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Debra Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467 June 20, 2018, 9:45 pm

The Nebraska State Journal
Daily State Journal
Lincoln, Nebraska
Thursday Morning July 24, 1879

        BOONE COUNTY.
      _________________
Natural Advantage -- Crops, Etc.
      _________________
   NORTHERN NEBRASKA
  "If that country up north of the Platte River is so
beautiful and so good, as you say it is, why is it 
not settled up? Why are there so many fine places 
and so few people seeking them?"
   We have been asked questions like those above until
we are tired of explaining by word of mouth, and will
explain to the whole edition of DAILY and WEEKLY 
JOURNAL readers, at the same time asking them to tell
the next man they see. We know that if the women once
get hold of the secret they will help us out by
telling everybody.
    Of course there are exceptions to every rule and 
Mrs. "Gad" not included in the above.
   Norther Nebraska has many natural advantages over
the South Platte country, but has never had the same
artificial assistance..
      BOONE COUNTY
for instance, where will you find better water
privileges extending from north to south through all
parts of the county? Examine your map of the State
of Nebraska, see the Cedar River in the west, then
Council creek, then the Beaver through the central
portion and Shell creek in the northwest. Two good
grist mills are running in Boone County both located
on the Beaver. On the Cedar a dozen mills might be 
run. The small streams that feed these larger ones
are numerous and useful.
   This County is not rough, notwithstanding the
many water courses, for all the valleys are wide, 
and the lands bordering the valleys rise smoothly
from the bottom land towards the high table lands
of the County. After reaching a common level, they
stretch away in every direction the same rolling
prairie that greets the travellers eye everywhere
in Nebraska. "Why, then has it not settled up faster?"
   In Boone County the B. & M. Land Company owns
180,000 acres of land. The Union Pacific land grant
did not reach this County. The B. & M. Company
also owned large tracts of land south of the Platte
River, in counties contiguous to their line of 
railroad. It was to the interest of the B. & M.
folks to sell the land along their line first,
consequently they advertised those counties 
extensively; they brought excursions by the hundred
from Eastern States, filled with people who wished
to settle in the West. Boone County received no 
favors of that kind from any source, until Adam
Smith came out from Chicago. He has done considerable
towards advertising the B. & M. lands, and has sold
a large number of acres.
   Boone, Antelope, Holt, Knox, Cedar, Pierce, 
Stanton and Madison Counties have been off the line
of immigration. By the lines of immigration we mean
the lines of railroad, for the B. & M. and the U.P.
Railroads have done all that has been done for
Nebraska in the shape of advertisement for the past
four years.
   In these counties just mentioned there is no
Union Pacific land. There are a great many acres of
B. & M. land but it is only recently that the B. & M.
have been able to turn their attention towards
their North Platte possessions, and from now on we
shall expect more rapid development in all this
country.
            ALBION,
the county seat of Boone County, has more than doubled
in the past twelve months. The Methodists have finished
a cozy little chapel, and the Baptists have one almost
completed. A number of new stores have gone up, and
many real fine residences. The Argus, the only paper in
the county, is doing well and is advertising Boone
County all that is within its power. Its editor Mr.
Brainard, is working hard to make a good newspaper.
  Mr. John Peters, the Clerk of Boone County, kindly
furnished us with many items of interest. Among others,
he reports that the increase in population since the
last census was taken in March, will probably exceed
1,000 more than then reported. Mr. Peters does a large
business in the line of real estate, besides making
out all of the "homestead papers and final proofs." he
is selling a large quantity of railroad land. He has
a large farm about sixteen miles up the Beaver. Crops
were never better.
  Mr. S. P. Bowman, the Treasurer of Boone County, has
a splendid farm only two miles above town, and lives
on  his farm, coming to his office every day. Mr. Bowman
has had the labor of keeping the financial accounts
of the county straight for the past few years, when
there was no pay in the office, now that the office
is commencing to pay a moder-return for the labor
performed, he must step down and out, under the law
of 1879. We hear some talk of contesting the
constitutionality of the act.
   Judge J. W. Riley is also a farmer, having a good
farm, well cultivated, just below town. He lives on
his farm, doing business in Albion. Riley & Clark
have the only hardware store in town and are doing a
big business, also dealing extensively in agricultural
implements.
   Our old friend Dr. Lewis has moved out of his small
store into a fine new building in which he has plenty
of room below for a large stock of drugs with an
office at the back end of the store. The upper story
he has fitted up specially for the Masons' and Odd 
Fellows hall.
   The Masons have applied for a dispensation and will
be in working order this season.
   Mr. A. L. Nickerson has the largest and best stock
of general merchandise in Albion, and is an old 
subscriber of THE JOURNAL. There will soon be another
competitor in his line, as a gentleman from Iowa is
bringing out a stock of goods.
   Mr. Darling, formerly from Seward, has a good stock
of merchandise which he is also offering to all who
want to buy.
   W. S. Connelly has the largest law practice of
the county; his father is living here and business
looks very promising for the future. Mr. Connelly has a 
large line of collections to which he pays strict
attention. Nelson & Dalton hang out their sign as
attorneys at law. Mr. Nelson is the B. & M. land
agent, and is selling a very large quantity of land
every week. This firm is doing a big business and
deserves success financially. Mr. Dalton has lately
come into the County from Iowa, where he was practicing
law formerly. Both are perfect gentlemen.
    Sacket & Couch have the boss grist mill of this
section of the State. The Beaver furnishes abundant
water power, and the demand for flour keeps the
mill running night and day.
   There is a good harness shop here, blacksmiths,
furniture store, hotel that needs some one to run it,
and a right nice thriving little town. The growth
of Albion is surprising to those not acquainted with
the way Nebraska is growing all over the State.
   Hon. Loren Clark, who is father of the town and
the owner of the town site, was not at home. Mr.
Clark's brother is a partner of Judge Riley's in the
hardware business. His father and mother are on the
farm adjoining the town. They like Nebraska very
much. We hope Loren Clark will be assigned to duty
in the district in which Nebraska is.
             WATERVILLE,
another town down the Beaver, is a flourishing burgh,
not quite so large as Albion but the possessor of a 
good grist mill and enterprising business men. As
we did not have time to stop, we cannot give further
particulars this time.
             ASSESSED VALUE
   The total assessment of Boone County for 1879 is
$330,053. There are 220,110 acres assessed at an
average of $1.08 1/2 per acre. Horses at $27.55 each; 
mules $34.10; cattle $7.50; sheep, $1.00; 
swine, 60c each. The population as returned by the
assessor for 1878, was 1,522, and for 1879 it is 
2,626, or an increase during the past twelve months
of 1,104--that is from March 1, 1878, to March 1, 1879.
The census of 1880 ought to show 4,000 inhabitants in
Boone County.

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