Pioneer Geneva Editor Writes of Early History of Geneva

Except from Nebraska Signal, August 6, 1931

No, I did not start the Review, but with my brother Ernest bought it from M. M. (Mark) Reeves who started it roughly about 1871, the year of the high tide of the homestead invasion. When we took charge of the Review it was fairly equipped with a seven-column oldtime Washington hand lever press and a small job press, eighth medium Gordon, and a workable outfit of body, advertising and job type.

As this was before the point system was evolved, the body type was brevier and nonpareil and were known as legal sizes; ten lines of the former and eight of the latter making a square on which charges were based. As labor-saving material was unknown and there were many bastard bodies, a lead cutter, shears and care board consumed a great deal of valuable time in making justification.

Later we added a quarto Liberty job press and up-to-date type and material and made a specialty of supreme court briefs. When we took over the Review, notices of final proof on homesteads were still a considerable source of revenue to the paper and there were quite a number of homestead entries on claims that had been contested.

The plant was housed in the front room of a story-and-half frame residence about midway of the block east of the courthouse square (145 So. 10th). There was a complete file of the paper done up in bundles in a closet. Somehow they were overlooked when we moved the plant to a building north of the square (884 G) and a later tenant used them for kindling fires.

The other newspapers of the county at this time were the Exeter Enterprise, published by W. J. Waite, who died not long ago at San Pedro, CA, the Fairmont chronicle, published by “Old” Joe Frazier, probably the oldest paper in Fillmore county, the Fiarmont signal, by Dr. J. B. Brazelton which justly claimed the largest circulation in the county. There was also a paper in Grafton, but the name and publisher I have forgotten. All the papers were republic in politics.

I first heard of Geneva while living in Beatrice from James Dempster, an intimate friend of our family. He was then a partner of his brother Charles in the Dempster windmill company. Gage county was in the same judicial district with Fillmore and Saline. There must have been another county in the district for A. J. (Ajax) Weaver was judge. Judge Weaver was very enthusiastic about Geneva and thought I should do well there.

I met John P. Maule, then district attorney, who thought it a very good place, not like Fairmont, of course but a live town, nevertheless. I also met W. H. Morris of Crete, who followed Maule as district attorney and later was judge for many years; and James W. Dawes, “Governor Jim.” Both thought Geneva was a coming town and believed I would do well there. Later James Dempster moved to Geneva and became a partner of his brother John. HFe informed me that the Review was for sale and my brother and I went over and bought it. This was about 1882.

When we went to Geneva it had about 800 population. It was the county seat of Fillmore county. Fairmont, eight miles north, was the nearest railroad point. Connection was by a stage lined line owned by Sam Yates. The driver was a young negro named Ed Nuttles, usually called Nettles. Passengers, mail and express were carried. The schedule called for two trips a day, morning and evening, and I don’t think a trip was ever missed.

The business part of town was built around the courthouse square, containing about fifteen acres. The courthouse was a wooden fire-trap of two stories, offices below and the entire upper floor a court room, which was also used for public meetings and religious services. The building stood near the center of the square, east and west, and close to the street on the north.

The square itself was leased to a farmer and cropped regularly to wheat until one Fourth of July the community asserted its independence and moved the celebration over on their own and wheat was out from then on. Along the north side was a row of hitch racks to which farmers tied their horses when in town. Young men used to test their endurance by running foot races around the square and that was some stunt, believe me.

South of the square was the Smith & Sloss addition, at that time wholly vacant. Beginning at the southeast corner was the residence of Judge B. F. Shickley, then a vacant space to the middle of the block, where stood the Review office. Adjoining on the north was a two-story building owned by Whitfield Crawford, his harness shop below and Company G’s armory above. Next on the corner was the residence of W. H. Jameson.

Across the street, both north and west from Jameson’s was the livery stable of Clint Spear. Going west was the barber shop of Ed Mack, the millinery store of the Misses Jones & Lee. Next on the alley stood the Putnam House, run by H. W. Kellogg.

Across the alley was a two-story frame building that was Fillmore county’s first courthouse. The lots on which it stood were given the county by James “Uncle Jimmy” Loghry. There were two rooms below, one occupied by Frank Briggs’ grocery, the other by Dempster Bros.’ general merchandise and drug store. Above was one large room, a community hall in which were held public gatherings and dances and also served as a lodge room.

My memory fails to serve me as to the other lots but believe Shumway-Dewolf had a butcher shop on one. Across the street stood the bank of Smith, Fisher & Fifield. Next Amos Herr ran a saloon.

Further along were one-story frame buildings used for offices of one sort and another, one of them later the Review office, until we sold the paper to Tim Wilkins. Near the west end of the square were the residences of Phil Jones and P. D. Sturdevant and on the corner was a little building that was the post office. Sherwood Burr was postmaster and dealer in real estate.

Across the street west, was the livery stable of Jim Camp. In the west end of the square first was the general store of A. G. (old man) Camp. Above this was the photograph gallery of C. D. Camp.

Next was the residence of George Bigelow, capitalist and his wife, Belle G., who was a pioneer and influential leader of the W.C.T.U. and the woman suffrage and prohibition movements. Mrs. George Hedges ran a millinery store next. Then the hotel of Gene Stowell. On the far corner was the general store of J. T. Platt, who daughter, Hattie, I later married and who is still looking after my welfare.

George P Wintersteen was county clerk and I think ex-officio clerk of the district court. Phelps D. Sturdevant was county treasurer and state treasurer-elect, the first democrat to hold a state office in Nebraska. Prof. J. B. Lewis was county superintendent. W. G. (Bill) Hanness was sheriff. B. F. Shickley was county judge.

John Jensen was the leading attorney and politician. The destinies of the republican party of Fillmore county lay in the hollow of his hand, and ambitions not bearing the stamp of his approval might just as well never have been born. But he certainly was one easy “boss” as well as a wise one and my remembrance of his friendship is one of gratitude.

Rev. F. B. Donisthorpe was pastor of the Methodist church. Later he was admitted to the bar and became a successful attorney. The Baptists maintained an organization but had no pastor when I went there, though they had one before and later had one constantly, There were few Catholics in Geneva or vicinity, though they were numbers in other parts of the county and regularly organized. Elder Pardee was a retired minister and quite a promoter.

Of men who were prominent in affairs were J. D. Hamilton, ex-county judge and a civil war soldier seriously injured at the Battle of Pea Ridge; C. H. (Cal) Baine, attorney and captain of the democratic hosts; R. H. McKee, an attorney who devoted his attention to real estate and abstracting. He also had a citizenship problem. Said he was born on the high seas of American parents on a British ship in Dutch waters.

James Bigelow was a capitalist interested in additions. A. O. Taylor, chattel money lender, later a banker. Dr. H. L. Smith, retired physician and large realty owner of both town and farm property, was considered the wealthiest citizen of the county. Lou S. Fiegenbaum, successful and popular druggist. The Dempster Brothers, John and James, Julius Spear, Mr. Heiderstadt, David Griffiths, “Bill” Voorhis, Robert Schofield and many others whose names escape me, but whose energy and foresight laid the foundation of the town’s success.

Dr. Daily and Dr. Hart looked after the health of the community. H. H. Martin, Ed Mercer and E. O. Lemon were carpenter contractors. Willis Bently was the village smithy. Nick Longly ran a wagon and general wood working shop.

The Masons, Odd Fellows and G. A. R. all had large memberships. Company G., first regiment, Nebraska national guard, was a leading institution and served with distinction both in the last Indian war at Pine Ridge agency and in the Phillippine Insurrection. There was also a Good Templar lodge with a large membership.