Village of Nemaha History
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The village of Nemaha was originally named Nemaha City, because
the founding fathers believed it would one day be a great city.
Because of its location, near the Nemaha River, the name seemed
fitting. The river was named by the Otoe Indians, and means
"miry water."
Because of the beauty of the location the founders had visions
of trains winding up and down the valley, steamboats loading and
unloading at the Missouri River wharf, businesses, factories,
lovely homes, schools and churches.
The village site is located on second bottomland and faces two
riverfronts, the Little Nemaha River on the south and the Missouri
River on the east. Much of the bottomland, and bluffs along the
river are covered with forest timber of various kinds, also shrubs
and underbrush including wild fruit and nuts.
According to available records the town site of Nemaha City was
selected in 1854. City lots were surveyed, staked off and offered
for sale. it was surveyed parallel to the bluffs and river, bias
ways, rather than by true directions, and has been confusing
people ever since as to the proper direction. Allen L. Coatt was
the surveyor. It is said that he was the first person to erect his
cabin on the town site. Nemaha City was incorporated and approved
by an act of the territorial legislature in the 1855-1856 term.
Among the first settlers to cross the Missouri River and settle
in Nemaha were: A.D. Skeen, H. Russell, Win. Weddle, Nathan Myers,
Dr. Hyatt and Dr. Jerome Hoover. Mr. and Mrs. John G. Skeen, and
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Culwell came from Tennessee in 1855 and they
all walked to Belleview to obtain a grant for land near Nemaha
Dr. Hyatt staked a claim on 160 acres of land near Nemaha. Dr.
Jerome Hoover purchased the claim and was credited with being the
founder of the City of Nemaha. He entered his claim in the land
office and recorded it as a town-site.
The legislature of 1855-1856 also granted a charter for a
ferryboat over the Nemaha River and a dam site across the Nemaha
River, where a mill was established.
The ferryboat charter was issued to Win. Finney, later this was
operated by Johnson P. Hoo ver, son of Dr. Jerome Hoover, who in
turn sold out to Rabe Elliott. In 1863-64 a toll bridge was built,
this being purchased by the county in 1867 for $2000 and was
replaced by an iron structure costing $4000.
The mill owners and operators were J.G. Melvin, Samuel Bennett,
Bennett Bros.. K.Skeen, Rowe and Trobridge and Rowe & Son.
Many tons of flour and meal were produced at this mill. The mill
was sold in 1858 and moved to Pawnee City, Nebraska.
A brick kiln was established in the northeast part of town by
Mr. John Barnes and excellent brick was made from the clay banks.
Also pottery for household use was made. There were a number of
brick homes, as well as the Methodist Church, erected in Nemaha
from the native product.
Silas Tidwell operated the first sawmill and much of the lumber
that went into the homes in Nemaha was sawed by this mill. Another
mill was put in operation by Mr. Melvin.
The first store was opened 1856 by McAllister & Co. The
business was shortlived as Mr. McAllister disappeared. Moore &
Brownlee of Indiana opened a store but creditors closed them out.
J.R. Davis had a store for three years. Mr. Coatt erected a two
story brick building, and opened a store below with a dance hall
above. It was later purchased by Hoover and Tynan. Bin Hoover
operated a store in Nemaha for many years. In 1860 John S. Minick
operated a General Merchandising Store, which he moved to Nemaha
in sections. His brother Hiram 0. Miniek took over the store upon
John's death in 1885.
A bank was organized and opened with H.E. Gilbert, as president
and Stephen Gilbert as cashier. Stephen Gilbert later entered the
merchandising business and was succeeded by his son Earl and
son-in-law A.R. McCandless. This was one of the finest and most
complete general stores in this area.
In the year 1900 the Bank of Nemaha was organized with Elmer E.
Allen, cashier, Fred F. Allen and Win. Campbell of Auburn,
stockholders. This was later purchased by the H.R. Dressier family
and after a time sold to the Auburn State Bank.
In 1857 Nemaha could boast of two hotels: "The Strong
Hotel" and the "Hiatt House." Both hotels had
attractive rooms and a reception room was also provided. This was
also used for public meetings. At one such meeting the first town
council was organized. Dr. Jerome Hoover was elected chairman,
David Lockwood, sec. and Charles Stewart, treasurer.
Here, also were held band concerts and singing schools led by
the Dye brothers; James R. Dye, Henry and Jim Dye. The two hotels
burned within three weeks of each other. A new building was
erected on Main Street prior to 1900. It was managed by Mr. and
Mrs. Fuller Burns, at the time of the cyclone in 1908. Mrs. Maud
Plasters also managed the hotel.
The newspaper, "The Nemaha Valley Times," was first
edited by Seymour Beldon in 1858. 'The Nemaha Times" was
published in 1880 by B.F. Sanders, followed by W.W. Sanders who
edited the "Nemaha Advertiser."
At one time Nemaha had two dray wagon lines. Also two mail
routes.
Alec Weddle was the first child born in Nemaha.
The two story Opera House had a store beneath with the stage in
the upper story. Plays and meetings were held in the second story.
It burned in 1905. It was rebuilt into a one-story building. It
has since been torn down.
Dave Morton and William Burns had a hardware store. Later
Andrew Aynes had a hardware store and sold caskets stored in the
back room. Herb Aynes followed his father in this business.
Mrs. Frederick Holmes is credited with starting the first
Sunday School in Nemaha. Mrs. Holmes had been a teacher in the
east and was well qualified as a leader. They first met in the
schoolhouse until the Episcopal church was built in the northeast
part of town, and later moved to a new location east of the
schoolhouse. The benches in this church were walnut, cut and sawed
from trees in a local sawmill. The church was torn down and much
of the lumber was used in the house built by the Win. Maxwell
family, the walnut lumbers being used in the woodwork of the
house.
Nemaha could boast a number of doctors. They dispensed their
own drugs and medicine, although Dr. Crim opened a drug store in
1860 and Dr. Keeling also owned and operated a drug store. Other
doctors who practiced in Neinaha were L)r. Hoover. Dr. Stewart,
Dr. Kay, Dr. McComas. Dr. Frederick Holmes, Dr. Andrew and Dr.
Aaron Stiers.
The Public Square or City Park was donated to the city by Mr.
Hoover and a big celebration was held. Speeches were made and
trees were planted. A log cabin was erected in the park and
remained for several years. Here, annually the "Old Settlers
Picnic" is held where old friends gather to greet one another
and enjoy a day of social fun and entertainment. The first picnic,
however, was held in the Hoover Grove in the northeast part of
town because they feared the newly planted trees in the park would
be damaged.
The first July 4th celebration was in 1857. An ox was barbecued
by Benjamin Wythe and the entertainment consisted of political
speeches and impromptu talks, discussions on the slavery question.
Indians from the Otoe Indian Reservation attended and by night the
crowd became somewhat rowdy as some were stimulated by sod corn
whiskey.
In 1868 a number of river boats hauled large quantities of
grain and other farm products. These boats docked and loaded at
Nemaha as the Missouri River was close to the bluffs at that time.
Later when the railroad lines built through Nemaha, grain and
stock were shipped in ear load lots. Railroad service was good as
there were trains from two divisions through Nemaha. One from
Nebraska City to Wymore and one from Lincoln to Falls City.
Nemaha Lodges included Hope Lodge No. 29 A.F. & A.M. and
the I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 40. O.E.S. was organized in 1893 and
remained in Nemaha until 1969 and the Rebekah Lodge.
There was a good deal of activity in Nemaha during the Civil
War years as it was a station of the Underground Railroad for
smuggling slaves to the north. Many ferried across the river, hid
in attics by day and found their way to Nebraska City by night to
then continue their trek to Canada. John Brown's men spent a good
deal of time here.
Nemaha City did its part during the Civil War. Part of Co. E;
all of Co. K of the 2nd Nebraska Volunteer Infantry were recruited
here. In June of 1861. Co. C of the 1st Nebraska Volunteer
Infantry was organized with J.D.N. Thompson as Captain.
Edwards and Bradford built a lumber yard in Nemaha. In 1917 it
was purchased by Johnson Lumber Company and continued in business
for several years.
Peter Kcrker, a butcher, was an early settler, coming in 1869,
who contributed much to the growth of Nemaha.
Frank L. Woodward was in the real estate business and was
interested in politics. He served as Mayor of Nemaha for many
years.
Much of the prosperity in this fertile valley is the result of
the pioneers' industry and unselfish sacrifice that developed this
place out of years of toil and planning for a better community.
May it be preserved and perpetuated.
By Lois Smith, Nebraska for the Nemaha County History Book; Copied from the Nemaha County History Book with permission
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