Downloadable copy of Gross Book

TABLE OF CONTENTS

History of Gross & Surrounding Area ............................................. Pages 4 thru 25

Military ............................. Pages 25 thru 29

Business History ......... Pages 29 thru 32

Schools, Churches & Cemeteries ........................................... Pages 32 thru 42

Organizations & Clubs .. Pages 43 thru 47

Baseball & Bowling ....... Pages 47 thru 49

Memories ........................ Pages 49 thru 59

Bicentennial .................... Pages 60 thru 62

Family Histories (In Alphabetical Order) ........................................ Pages 63 thru 186

Picture Section .......... Pages 186 thru 212

100 YEARS OF GROSS, NEBRASKA

By Mary Finnegan

 

I n writing the history of the beautiful and progressive town of Gross, nestled at the foot of a hill which rises gently to the west, words seem inadequate to portray the pos­sibilities that lie in store for this little town. To the south and west, as far as the eye can see, are fields of grain waving in the breeze. On all sides, the land is dotted with comfort­able farm homes. Livestock can be seen grazing on the hillsides. Far to the north and east, you will find the quiet flowing of the Missouri River as it makes its way down into the valley.

Looking down from the hills, you can see the tiny com­munity of Gross, NE. It is proclaiming to the country that people of a special kind live here. People who are not afraid to work hard, are caring in a time of need and who have been there to lend a hand to build for themselves a place we can all be proud of.

It can be said that Gross was one of the most prosperous towns in the state of Nebraska. The town is situated what used to be the center of the Military Reserve. A tract of land containing 27,000 acres, selected by the government be­cause of its being the best land in all of Boyd County. A fort was established at Ft. Randall, ten miles north of Gross and the soldiers were not only kept busy keeping down Indian troubles but were called upon numerous times to drive the adventuresome home-seekers out of the reserve. This is exactly what happened to Benjamin Gross, the founder of this town. He first squatted in Boyd County on a claim adjoining the present site of Gross in 1892. He was driven off by soldiers. Not until the year 1893, just one year later, was the town of Gross laid out.

First called Morton, after the founder of Arbor Day, J. Ster­ling Morton, the name was soon changed to Gross. Federal officials considered the name Morton as being to near and alike the name Martin. They feared travelers and mail deliveries would be misrouted so the name was changed from Morton to Gross during 1893. Other names were tried and failed. Either Elijah Sinclair or W. T. Willis suggested the name of Gross, to be named in honor of B. B. Gross. It was granted at once. After this, when the townships were organized, it was decided to name our township Morton.

Benjamin B. Gross and his wife Malinda (Mathews) proved to be two very important people to this town. After returning to claim a homestead in 1893, they opened a small store. They started out by stopping travelers and in­forming them of their wares in the store. Before long, Mr. Gross owned 560 acres of land and was engaged in the lumber, grain, stock and implement business. He also still owned his store and meat market. He was called the "mer­chant prince" of Boyd County. The large brick house that he built from bricks made at the factory in Tower is still standing and in fairly good condition on the hill west of Gross.

Gross in 1902

 The town remained only a small trading post for several years but it grew and by 1903 was a thriving town of near­ly 500 inhabitants. It was one of the most prosperous towns in Nebraska and more business was transacted within its boundaries than in any other town in Boyd County. Gross was a very important town to the early Ft. Randall settlers.

Gross never had a railroad but the J. Leach Navigation Company ran two very large steamers up and down the river three times a week. An army of freight teams and wagons were constantly hauling grain, livestock and provisions to and from the Iron Post landing which gave Gross lower freight rates than the railroad towns received.

There were several people who helped Gross grow and flourish such as Phil Stein who owned a ^-hardware store; Stephen Holt, a drug store; Terrence Moolick operated a hardware store; William T. Craft, a doctor; Messrs. Smolik and Scheinost, saloon operators; D. J. Kirwan who ran the livery business; John W. Patterson, proprietor of the Gross Pool Hall; C. P. Kerwin, owner-operator of the Senate Saloon; J. H. Butler, banker; Lewis Rudloff, engaged in the mercantile business; E. A. Persons was an auctioneer; J. J. Blair enjoyed a splendid trade in the general merchandise business; G. L. Meholin, a practical veterinary and J. N. Fuller, postmaster. L. M. Stumbo, George Couch, the Sinclair boys and J. W. Blair were a few other prosperous farmers and leaders in Gross' early history.

The future of Gross looked very bright as it was almost sure that the railroad would be built near here. Instead it fol­lowed the Ponca Creek to the south and Gross was bypassed. Many residents were disappointed and moved away when this happened.

Soon after, Gross was hit by two devastating fires which helped contribute to the decline of the town. The first fire was in 1902 which burned the north side of the street. The second was just a few years later, in 1908, burning the south side of the street. The cause of the fires were never known for certain with arson never having been ruled out.

 In spite of all this bad luck, the town was still a good trad­ing post for the community. It still had a couple of general stores, the bank and a hardware store for many years. Then cars took the trade to the larger neighboring towns.

The post office in Gross was closed in 1960 but the town of Gross is still an incorporated village today, boasting a population of nine. We are still home to the voting place for Morton township on election day with 111 registered voters and usually about a 99% voter turnout. We are proud to have an active women's club and an ever growing 4-H Club that both call Gross home. At present, there is only one business here in town. I guess you could call it the general store of modern day. Here you can purchase a cup of coffee for 5 cents, buy your Sunday paper, food, drink, a limited line of veterinary supplies, rent a movie, buy your shells for your next bird hunt, choose a new sweatshirt and to hopefully find that friendly face to chat with around the wood stove.

So, the little town of Gross that once had such a promis­ing future, still today has not completely vanished. The memories of those people who helped make the town and community so successful still live on as a symbol of all the pioneer men and women who, with their help and courage, made this town such a grand place during the span of the last 100 years.

PART HISTORY OF GROSS

By Ted Lauts

Dated August 1, 1975

Contributed by Louis Klasna

Mrs. Hannah Sinclair was a little girl when Gross first started.

She remembers the first store in Gross. It was located where the present beer joint is now. Mr. Gross enlarged his store as the business grew. He also had a butcher shop and telephone office in the same building.

He had about fifteen people working for him. She said Mr. Gross sold a carload of flour a week. She said he also sold about the same amount of sugar. He sold dry goods, groceries and other things that the farmers needed. Both the wind mills they have on the Sinclair place at this present time were bought from Ben Gross.

All provisions that Mr. Gross sold came up the river and the people freighted the supplies by horses and wagon to the Gross Store. The ships unloaded their cargo at the Iron Post Landing.

There was a hardware store operated by Stein. Moolick ran a hardware store at the same time. Clara Headly ran the millinery store. She sold hats, etc. There was a post office. They also had a furniture store in town.

There was a Methodist church, Free Methodist and the Friend church.

One livery barn -that was run by Jerry Kirwan. Two beer joints or more, two banks, J. H. Butler ran one and Woods and Kloke ran the other. The town also had a barber shop.

 Dr. Kraft later moved to Bristow.

There was one lumberyard. It was believed that the present house of Ernest Olson would be the county court­house.

Gross had many fires. One big fire took the whole north side. Gross had 160 pupils in their school at one time. They used one of the churches as a schoolhouse.

Gross boasted two dance halls, three stores; Ben Gross' store and John Blair's store, a bowling store, and a black­smith shop. They also had a cheese factory, brick factory, two hotels, one restaurant, undertaker and a box factory that made crates for eggs.

Gross also had a bowery, better known as an open air dance hall. Gross had a horse pulling contest. One contest alone had a $500 side bet. They also had a movie theater that was run by hand. Con Kirwan built it.

The town of Gross had a population of 700 or more at one time.

GENERAL HISTORY

by Lucille Motacek

On Friday, September 7, 1904, Lewis and Clark set up, camp on the east side of the Missouri, just opposite the^­Tower - a high, upthrusting dome that was to become one of the outstanding landmarks of the river. Clark wrote in his journal, "Cap Lewis & myself walked up to the top which forms a cone and is about 70 feet higher than the high lands around it and the base is about 300 feet."

The man were quite intrigued by the "barking squirrels" and spent an entire day using kettles, etc. to carry river water to pour down their holes; finally drowning out some of the rodents.

This hill that these explorers named The Tower, was named Old Baldy by the settlers. It is predominantly chaulk rock and loaded with rattlesnakes. This chaulk rock, called Niobrara chaulk, was formed 100 million years ago during the creaceous period when this area was a shallow-inland sea.

Except for the Military Reserve, Boyd County was opened for homesteading in 1890. The Fort Randall Military Post was disbanded in 1892 allowing the area of Gross to be set­tled. Boyd County was officially proclaimed a county on , August 1, 1891.

The area that became Gross was part of the Ft. Randall Military Reserve that existed from 1857 to 1892. Currently remaining parts of the "Military Line" are between John Nolan and Tom Kay's land 3 1/2 miles west of Gross. This "Military Line" ran NW to Se parallel to the Missouri River.

To homestead 160 acres, one needed to be 21 years old, "prove up" on a claim (build a home and live there 5 years) and pay $40.

Land was surveyed by tying a rage on a wheel of a wagon and counting the revolutions. The NE - SD state line was not determined until 1895 hence until then settlers living in the "Three Mile Strip" didn't know which state they lived in.

 Boyd County was virgin prairie. There were no lum­beryards. People used a special plow called a sod-buster to slice pieces of sod 12x18" and laid them brick fashion to make their "soddies". Some dug into a hillside to make a "dugout". Jerome, Bessie and Rudolph Prokop's grandparents lived in a dugout on their homestead. Others built houses most of rock such as sandstone and chaulk rock. Claus Gehlsen built his house of chaulk rock.

Ft. Randall was disbanded in 1892 and most all of the buildings were torn down. Lumber was very previous in the 1890s and an enormous amount of that lumber was quick­ly hauled to eastern Boyd County. I once asked E. F. Soukup whytherewere square nails in an old house of ours and he said almost of all of the houses built around here had Ft. Randall lumber nails in them.

Until 1892 all large commercial transportation was via paddle-equipped steamboats, traveling on the Missouri River up to Ft. Randall leaving with furs, hides and cattle and returning with textiles, furniture, etc.

About 1 /4 mile from the Iron Post and close to Old Baldy, there arose a riverport and town named Tower after a rep­resentative in Washington. (Tower was often referred to as Iron Post Landing).

Frank Stumbo (born in Ohio in 1842, survivor of the Civil War Battles of Shilo and Big Blue, married to Julie Stringfield, born 1866) came by covered wagon from Mis­souri and homesteaded at Iron Post Landing. The Iron Post was the markerforthe SE corner of the Ft. Randall Reserve.

David C. Billick lived in SW Holt County. In 1896 he and his family moved to Iron Post Landing where they began operating a ferry called "The Little Pearl".

Ferries such as this one were used at Iron Post Landing (1922)

In 1899, Stumbo and Billick traded their 160 acres and the "Little Pearl". The trade included 13 acres and a stone house south of the gulch. Stumbos had 13 children and Billicks had 10. With about 7 or 8. businesses and considering how large families were, 60 to 70 people could have lived in Tower at one time.

The hardware store and ferry were operated by Billick, other businesses and operators were: lumberyard-Charles Anderson; grocery store-Frank Sanders; brick factory­John Chambers; pool hall-Jay Long; Leach Grain and Hog

 Buying-Frank Donnely; post office-Frank Sanders; general store, saloon, blacksmith shop and liver barn were there, too. The Billick home served as a hotel serving meals and lodging.

David Billick was instrumental in building the school house about 1 1/2 miles west. The school closed around . 1940. Sunday school was held in the Billick home. Nearby clay was used to make bricks. Frank Sanders had the only telephone in Tower.

Steamboats brought supplies from Sioux City. Names of the steamboats were Little Maude, Last Chance, Capitola, Meade, McPherson and South Dakota all owned by Cap­tain Leach and the Castalis owned by Captain Anderson.

The Missouri is a shallow river often changing channels with many sandbars and snags. The steamboats were so loaded that the front of the boat sank about a foot deeper in the water than the back or paddle end of the boat. This prevented the boat.from getting hung up on an unseen edge of a sandbar.

The steamboats, measuring about 100'x03' had the boilers at the front. Passengers and living quarters were on the upper deck. The lower deck held cattle and other cargo. Over the upper deck was the pilot house.

An estimated 450 steamboats have sunk in the Missouri River. Today you can see a raised steamboat plus its ex­tremely well- preserved contents at Brownville, NE.

In 1903 the railroad began to run. Eventually four pas­senger trains a day and some freight trains. The passenger trains quit running in 1978.

Julie Stumbo died in 1916 and Frank died in 1930. They are buried in the cemetery north of Lynch. San and Nina (Billick) Rust moved to Spencer where he ran a dray ser­vice. He also hauled bricks for the main street in Spencer.

In 1931, Sam Chambers sold the area that included Tower to Dave Widtfeldt. They lived there several years then rented it to Clarence and Esther Potter. Dan Miller bought it and ,his brother Chet lived there in the late 40s and early 50s.

Chet, as did the Widtfeldts and the Potters, lived in the house that the Billicks built. The one that served as a hotel and a place to buy a meal. When Chet left, Tower belonged to history. It is no more.

Vern Rust told about the terrible fire that devastated Gross in 1902. He said that he and another person were in the process of driving hogs to market and were spending the night near the Niobrara River. They could see the reflected light in the sky.

Cecil Malcom said that the 4th of July was very important in the early days of Gross. Hundreds of people would be there, bringing their picnic dinners and eating while sitting on blankets spread on the ground anywhere they could find a little shade.

Rudy Prokop said that in the hills, roads in the summer followed the section lines except where hills and gulches made it impassable. In winter the roads followed hilltops, cutting both over and through fences. Folks were prepared for isolation for weeks at a time. Flour was sold in 50 lb. bags and sugar in 200 lb. bags. People wasted nothing.

 A landmark known as Rock Point just north of Tower.

Even a piece of waxed paper was treasured to be used to polish the kitchen range' (so called because of the large range area where kettles could be set.)

Dancing was very popular in the early days. There was the Scheinost pavilion 3 1/2 miles west of Gross on the south side of the road near the west side of the pasture on what is now the Tim Klasna farm. All that is left to see today is a clump of trees and one old building.

Cecil and Julia Malcom had their wedding dance in a dance hall in Gross.

House dances were common until the 1940s. One room would be cleared of furniture and floor covering. Every few dances, corn meal was sprinkled on the floor. More people played music in those days, violins and accordions being the most popular.

In the old days children never called older people by their first names. Except Della Everette. She was like family. Della started to homestead the farm west of where Howard Marx now lives. She sold her interest to Tom Courtney and moved to the place just over the hill north of Tower where she lived the rest of her days in Boyd County.

She lived in a five room house with a hill on the north and a draw 1/4 mile long and 30 feet deep on the south. A foot­path wound its way past the granary down to the muddy Missouri, which was the source of drinking water. She had her dog, Happy, a few goldfish and her canaries that she raised. Memories bring back the organ in her living room, the picture of the Dionne quintuplets above the davenport, the sound of Happy's toenails on the linoleum and the woolen "crazy" quilt on her bed. Her hollyhocks were the prettiest.

Della's transportation was her own two feet and, with the kindness of the Dave Widtfeldts and later the Clarence Pot­ters, she managed to get to her destinations. Della broke her hip in the early 40s and spent six weeks in bed at the Potter home where Esther Potter cared for her. Della had a crank-type telephone. Della was born in 1874.

To go to Gross was a big occasion back in the 30s. The main business was the Gross Cash Store run by Jerry and Anna Loukota, located in the building of the present-day Nebrask Inn. The building faced north with the usual two large windows flanking the set-in door that was common for stores in the early days. In front of the store, in the "L" created by the two sidewalks meeting perpendicular, was a huge elm tree. It succumbed to Dutch elm disease in the early 70s.

A few feet inside the door was the main counter. In the northwest corner were the fresh fruits and vegetables. In the southwest corner were dry goods. Jerry always said you never left his store empty handed. If you couldn't make a purchase, he always made sure you left with a bit of candy.

In the southeast corner of the store was the Gross Post Office. Postage for a sealed letter was 3 cents, an unsealed one was 1 1 /2 cents. Anna Loukota was postmistress. It was the only post office in the United States in a town named Gross. Naturally a lot of collectors wanted last day cancel­lations.

East of the store was a garage and filling station. A small addition on the east of the garage was where men could get a hair cut or play cards. Across the street north of the store was a former bank building. This building served as the town hall and the women's club met there. There was a room in the back that served as a kitchen. The building joining on the east had been a drug store and was vacant. In the early 40s the bank building was torn down and the drug store building was sold for $200. The bank vault remains today.

Gross Dance Floor

 

South of the current town hall, during the 30s, was the open air dance floor. There was a roof over an area on the west where the band members played. Among the different bands playing were "Hazel and Her Orchestra", composed of Hazel Courtney, Regina Mulhair, Jerry Loukota, Arden Berg and Joe Kopecky. Another band was "Tony and the Toe Teasers", whose members were Lucille Keeler, who played the piano, Ray Keeler and Tony, Arden and Almer Berg. The band was often referred to as the Berg Band. Another band was the Rostead Band.

Rudy Prokop was part-time cop during the 1930s. During the great depression, (1930-1937) people learned to do without. I saw ear corn used for fuel in a neighbor's home. Farmers would wrap gunny sacks around a glass vinegar jug, tie with twine, then wet the sackbound jug. This kept the water in the jug quite cool. We wore dresses made from chicken feed sacks. They had pretty prints. Grasshop­pers were bad. The dust storms were almost like blizzards.

We would go to Bristow to free shows on Wednesday night in the summer. The outside wall of a building was used as the screen.

Our Gross Club had many special days that we had guests. On one such day in the 1970s, I invited Maggie Johnson who then lived in the Butte Nursing Home.

A few miles out of Butte, traveling, east, I pulled the car over to the side of t he road. Once again I asked, "Do you still want to go?" Her eyes were the most beautiful clear blue. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "yes." A few more miles and she said, "This will be the last time." Three months later she belonged to the angels.

Well, Maggie, for all of us, we too, will have a "last time." That is why we are writing this book. The memories of you and the others who broke ground for those who follow. Like you, the village of Gross captured our hearts. Our feet may stay or our feet may travel but our hearts remain forever in Gross. Truly the biggest little city in the USA.

(Credit is due to Mrs. Mildred Widtfeldt, Binkerd Spangler for the story of Tower, Vern Rust for the fire story, Albert Lauts for tales about the hills and Helen Berg for the facts about the dances.)

TOWER, NEBRASKA

The town of Tower was originally called Walther, Ne. The post office there was established February 5, 1892. It was named by a Lutheran minister for the Walther League, a German Lutheran Church organization. The name was changed to Tower April 13, 1900. Why the name was changed is not known for sure but is believed that Lewis and Clark had observed a big odd-shaped pointed hill on the west shore of the river which they call the "tower". Near that spot years later the steamboat landing of Iron Post and the village of Tower located. Tower was a military supply depot established at Iron Post in the military reservation. Iron Post is a historic landmark -- an iron post designating one corner of the military reservation in Todd,County (now Boyd) then part of Gregory County, Dakota Territory and now Nebraska. Iron post is gone now to an unknown des­tiny but at one time was believed to have many historic papers locked safely within the post.

Commerce was brisk at Iron Post Landing. Steamboats were bringing up supplies, personnel, soldiers, families of the soldiers, mail, visitors, and other supplies. The river was wider and deeper here and facilities for steamboats were excellent. Mr. Billick owned the ferry boat "The Little Pearl" which he had purchased for Dennis Moran and that busi­ness was also good. Elmer Stumbo piloted the Iron Post Ferry as well as the Fort Randall Ferry which later he owned in partnership with George Pratt.

The first pioneers in this area were Elmer Stumbo and A. B. Cohee. Mr. Cohee's first hut was made of straw which he replaced with a soddy and later a house of chalk rock which he quarried from the river bluffs. Elmer Stumbo's homestead was near the location of the village of Tower. The store and post office was operated by Frank Sanders. There was also a hotel, livery stable and brick factory. Mr. Billick, who owned the townsite and the lumberyard, planted an orchard of several varieties of fruits and berries which grew well and bore an abundance of fruit until the drouth and neglect contributed to its breakdown.

Tower was built as a station or depot for the provisions. supplies and such that were brought up river by the steam­boats and unloaded at Iron Post Landing mainly to supply the military of Fort Randall. People came from all directions within a radius of fifty miles to buy staples of flour, salt, sugar in large quantities which were plentiful, being stocked by the Fort Randall Post. On return trips, the steamboats car­ried passengers, soldiers and the pioneers' stock to the eastern markets. Ben Gross had established a trading post at Tower before moving to Gross to open a store.

Another business that was good was making bricks in the brick factory. Large quantities were made and sold to the military and to the pioneers for the building of their houses.

School was held in private homes but, during the early 1900s, a small schoolhouse was built. Funds were short so Mr. Cohee donated a sum to aid in meeting the expenses of running the school and Jim Stout taught the 25-30 pupils. The schoolhouse was dedicated and the community voted to call the district "Deep Dale" District No. 75 as suggested by Jim Stout.

The Indians traded with the early settlers and liked to get the trimmings of the butchered animals, their extra dogs, and other articles from them. Some Indians prowled about but there were never any violent incidents. People were watchful because of the raids on the Rosebud Reservation at that time. The Indians and settlers became good friends and the Indians often visited their acquaintances in the dis­trict. The Indians could be heard on a still summer night praying for rain, celebrating a wedding or mourning a death.

The building of the Northwest railroad and its progress caused the inland river border towns to decline since the river traffic by that time had virtually come to a standstill. The hotel became a farmer's house; the large chalk foundation of the livery barns was still visible in 1938 but the top structure had been razed. Part of a chalk house remained and broken red bricks could be found at the brick-making yards. The once well-traveled roads were covered with grass or used as cowpaths.

In 1906 the district was swept by a prairie fire. The men fought bravely for their possessions and finally smothered the blaze but not until the stock and haystacks were burned out.

Time passed and the. village of Tower was no more, the post office was closed August 18, 1902 and the town was abandoned. The river became so shallow at the Iron Post Landing that the government boats returning from Fort Peck had a very difficult and slow trip.

 

GROSS AND TOWER

Tower was a triangular area bisected by a gulch 1/4 mile long and 30' deep. The south part was the largest and was settled first. It was Billick's second house; this one on the north part, that was the last dwelling to be used. The last piece of Tower was Billick's cistern; almost all houses had eaves troughs emptying rain into cisterns to be pumped out as needed. It was here that Billick raised and sold apples, pears and berries, these died out in the 1930s. The gulch was dry except during the June rise.

Between Della Everett's and Tower was the landmark that extended into the river and was known as Rocky Point. The first Cohee home was made of straw, the second of chalkrock and then for­tune blessed them with a fine frame house. It was in 1949 when, while tearing down the 100' barn to make granaries, that Vern Rust told our family the story of the 1904 fire in Gross.

The mule-train went from Tower; following The Slough, to the Wilson ranch, then it followed the road that exists today to Gross. The only hill on this route was a 335' climb in altitude in little more than one mile. Midway up this hill is a plateau where the Wilson ranch buildings were.

GROSS AS YOU SEE IT TODAY

This tiny town is so small its three street lights share one pole. (Four lights if it happens to be close to Christmas). The town's sign is a weathered piece of wood nailed to a tree. Gross just happens to be one of the smallest of small towns in Nebraska, in fact, the whole world.

As you enter the town today, you will find two houses, a trailer house, one business, the old pool hall which is still used as a town hall for meetings and as a voting place, and an abandoned school house now owned by the Finnegans.

Nine residents call Gross home. Albert Johnson, Gross' oldest living resident and only senior citizen. Mike, Mary, Corey, Lisa, and Jared Finnegan, owners of the Nebrask Inn. Pat, Nancy and Shaun Kayl make up the remaining population.

 The residents of Gross say life in this town is anything but lonely. The Nebrask Inn, Gross' only remaining business, draws a crowd for miles around. They have a menu which includes hamburgers and fries with all 'the usual additions that one can choose from at all times. Weekends bring steaks and a salad bar which can suddenly increase the population from nine to at least one hundred. They also fea­ture homecooked noon specials during the week along with homemade pie. One can usually find someone to chat with and catch up on the news while warming yourself around the wood stove. You might even get involved in a good game of darts or pool not to mention the five point pitch games that have been a part of Gross for years.

Outside, the old pool hall stands across the street ready to use. It's now used as a town hall. The Women's Club use it every month for meetings, family gatherings, rummage sales, etc. The 4-H Club also uses it for meetings. All registered voters from Morton Township pay their respects here on election day as it is still used as a voting place. The people boast a 99% voter turnout which is something we can still be proud of. Though there is still no running water in this building, several family reunions are held here each year.

The city park is kept trimmed and clean, ready for many children that pass through it each week. The swings, playground equipment, sandbox and volleyball net are usually busy most weekends not to mention the horseshoe pits. The "kids" using these are not necessarily of a young     a reminder of years past. Though the vault remains, the age. The volleyball games will include players from seven to seventy years young. Everyone is welcome to play. Though the rules are usually none, the fun is endless.    

The abandoned schoolhouse sits alone at the end of main street. Now used for storage, it still stands as a reminder of the children who once came here eager to learn. Inside you can still find some of the original school desks. Even a few names etched in the walls and on the old chalk boards. The stage remains in place at the west end of the north room. One can almost see the children standing there proudly before their parents as they perform a Christmas program. The bell tower still stands outside though the bell is gone.

The flag pole and town pump stand in the middle of town as a reminder to everyone of the dedication in this cor : munity. The water pump has been here supplying water to man for the last 100 years. It is still used today for occasions in the park and hall. The flag flies every day over the town waving to all who pass. It serves as a reminder that the people here are a special breed, caring and helpful to strangers as well as friend, people who are not too good for anybody but good enough for everybody.

This town is small and friendly yet unique in character. Gross is a lot like getting a special gift. Not all good things come in big packages.

GROSS DEPARTMENT - 1933-1934

 

1. A. Ostertag at the Gross Drug Store is the Advocate's authorized agent and has full charge of the Gross Depart­ment.

If you have a news item give it to him. If you have a for sale or a want ad, or you want to advertise your business or your farm sale, consult him. He will also take your sub­scription and your order for sale bills or job work of any kind. The Advocate will take care of all work entrusted to him. Service is our first name.

How Do You Do, Folks.

We folks of Gross community are on the map and we are going to let the folks hereabout know it.

Editor Kirk of the Spencer Advocate has kindly consented to set aside a department for Gross and we are going to use it, and tell to the world what we have here, what we ex­pect to have in the future, the going and coming and the good and naughty acts of people; the haps and mishaps of the community, in fact, this department will be a mirror  in which will reflect the doings of our little community. This is a trial venture and its continuance depends large­ly on the support given by the community. By advertising in it we tell to the outside world our lines of business and show that we are alive and after business. People do not care to linger along around the dead. So let's not be dead ones. We want trade and let's tell the buyers about it.

Another very important feature of this department will be the news. Here is where everyone can help. If you know a news item, tell us about it. If you don't see us, we have a telephone. It is for use. Now, folks all together let's boost for Gross.

Our office is at the Gross Drug Store.

1. A. Ostertag.

 

(From the Spencer Advocate)

Gross is progressing very rapidly. We have a police force, 'n everything. Ed Pruden is the police force. Watch your step when you come to Gross.

Frank Dahlenburg completed a new cistern at his residence last week.

Last Saturday night the Gross building in Gross was the scene of more athletics. Ed Downs of White River, S. D. met Joe Connot and Andy Connot. Mr. Downs won the first fall in seven minutes with a body scissors and hammer lock. Andy Connot lost the second fall to Downs in eight minutes. The third fall went to Downs from Joe Connot in fifteen minutes with a body scissors and a double wrist lock. The Connot boys are both good wrestlers and gave the White River gentleman a little fun for his money.

1. A. Hedell has completed a fine new hog house on his farm one mile south of Gross.

LOST - A saddle blanket Monday morning on the road be­tween Bristow and Gross. Finder please call the Gross Drug Co.

The new dance hall in Gross is nearing completion. One of these days you will see an ad for a big dance in our "city auditorium."

Gross should have a barber shop. It would be a source of satisfaction to be able to get shaved and have our hair cut at home and it would be a big drawing card for the town.

Frank Dahlenberg's sale Saturday was a big success. There was a large crowd in attendance and everything sold well.

The wrestling match between Louie Adams and Joe Con­not failed to materialize.

Files Bankruptcy Petition

Norfolk News - Emmet C. Hamilton, former cashier of the Gross State Bank of Gross, Nebr., filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy in federal court here giving his debts $144,792.18 and assets as $10,535 of which a large part is his life insurance. Among the securities named in his peti­tion Hamilton gives the First National Bank of Spencer $6,500; Woods Credit Company, Spencer, $10,000; Char­les Beckenhauer, West Point, $5,000; Peters Trust Com­pany, Omaha, $10,000.

Among some of the unsecured creditors are: Commerce Trust Company $25,000; First National Bank, Spencer, $30,000; First National Bank, Bristow, $4,800; Omaha Na­tional Bank $2,500; Gross State Bank, $4,000.

Orders Draft To Pay Gross Bank
Depositors

District Judge Robert R. Dickson, Friday of last week, on request of Receiver E. R. Johnson, ordered a draft of ninety thousand, forty-six dollars on the state guaranty fund to pay depositors of the failed Gross State Bank of Gross, Neb.

Gross Store to Auction Entire Stock of Goods

The management of the Gross Cash Store announces

 

Serve-"To Discharge the Duties of an Office.". That can be purely mechanical. This is not a me­chanical bank.

Our service goes farther than that of most banks.;

We are here to. serve you personally in a personal way.

Our growing list of customers proves that our per­sonal^. service idea is the right one.

REPORT OF THE CONDITION OF
THE GROSS STATE BANK OF GROSS. _Charter No. 608.
In the State of Nebraska at the close of business November 15, 1919.
RESOURCES

Loans and discounts ............................................................................... $ 81,585.32

Overdrafts _.................................................................................................................................... 247.05

Other assets, Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps .................................. 1,195.10

Banking house, furniture and fixtures ........................................................ 1,689.25

Current expenses, taxes and interest paid ..................................................... 4.088.37

Cash items ....................................................................................... _           471.60

Due from National and State banks .......................................................... 10,803.51

Cheeks and items of exchange ............................................ 1,161.40

Currency ............................................................................. 3,363.00

Silver. nickels and cents ............................................................ 471.36        4,995.76

 

TOTAL ............................. $106,075.96 LIABILITIES

Capital stock paid in ............................................................................. $ 5,000.00

Surplus fund                                                                                               3,000.00

ndivided profits ................................................. :......... :..:.......... :............ 5,817.30

ndividual deposits subject to check ................................. 38,625.66

ime certificates of deposit .................................................... 52,008.54      90,634.20

Depositor's guaranty fund ............................................................................. 624.46

 

TOTAL ......................................................................................... $105,075.96 State of Nebraska, County of Boyd, ss:

I, E. C. Hamilton, Cashier, of the above named bank do hereby swear that the above statement is a correct and true cony of the report made to the State Banking Board.                                                                           E. C. Hamilton, Cashier. ATTEST: F. W. Woods. L. G. Kloke. Directors.

Sulscrited and sworn to before use this ²5th day of November.1919. 1' S. Adams. Notary Public.

through the advertising columns of the Advocate and Gazette, their intention of auctioning off the entire line of goods on next Monday, February 6, commencing at 1 p.m. The sale to include a full line of dry goods, notions, hardware, drugs and some groceries.

Gross Cash Store will be continued under the manage­ment of Mrs. Theo. Anderson, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Webster. Mrs. Anderson wishes to thank the friends and patrons for the kindness and sympathy they have shown. She feels that during his life and business career, Mr. Ander­son gained friends as well as customers and hopes to carry on the business to the benefit and satisfaction of both old and new customers and themselves.

Permanent Hair Waving

I do permanent hair waving, any length, at 80 cents a curl. Guaranteed for one year. Will be at the Bristow hotel. Call for appointments. Address Mrs. Frank Dahlenberg, either Gross or Bristow. 33-4t.

 

Artesian Well Finished; Jim Doesn't Want Any Oil

An artesian well one thousand, one hundred and three feet deep has been completed on the J. V. Sedlacek farm, and the water raises within 133 feet of the top of the ground. This piece of work was done by Mr. Young of Lake Andes, and has attracted plenty of attention the past several weeks. Jim's friends tell him that he needed to go but ten feet more and he would strike oil, but he informed this office that he was not looking for oil, that it was water he wanted -- and got.

Well 1225 Feet Deep

An artesian well on one of the Joe Klasna farms, northeast of Gross, has just been completed. We understand that it is the deepest well in this section of the country, measur­ing 1225 feet from the top to the bottom. Maple Young of Lake Andes did the drilling.

Did You Know?

That the value of all farm property in Boyd County in 1925 averaged $18,180 per farm.

That the land and buildings alone averaged $15,632 per farm.

Gross News

Corn husking seems to be the order of the day. Many hus­kers from up the line in South Dakota are helping out. Corn yields seem to run from 25 to 30 bushels but the quality is not as good as usual.

Mrs. T. A. McCright spent the weekend with her daughter, Mrs. Vern Criss, who is recovering from a tonsil operation. The high school gave a Halloween party Friday evening. The "Freshmen" were initiated at this time. A jolly good time is reported.

The ladies of the community entertained their husbands and children at a Halloween party given at the J. J. Loukota home Thursday evening. From the time the "witches" met their guests at the gate and escorted them thru the door of the cavern, the evening was filled with merriment. A fine supper was served about midnight. About 55 guests were present.

Mrs. George Schmidt and baby of near Ainsworth are visit­ing with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Miller.

Gross School News

The Dragon Fighters of the primary and intermediate grades held their fourth club meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 28. The active committees are: order, library, school ground. The president is Donald McCright; vice pres., Al­bert Johnson; sec.-treas., Shirley Olson. We have added two bricks to our Group Castle.

 

The first and second grades are illustrating the "Three Bears" by free hand cutting. The third and fourth grade geography class is interested in making a Japanese house. The fifth and sixth grade English class is completing their newspaper. Plans are being made for each child to make his own newspaper.

The local declamatory contest was held February 23. The winners in the contest were: Humorous, Arlene Fish; dramatic, Elsie Zatopek; oratorical, Arlene Wenke. The spelling contest between Gross and neighboring schools was held at Gross February 23. The winners were Mildred Scheinost, first in the World Herald, Shirley Olson, second, Joe Fuhr third. Harold Wiley was the only contest­ant in the third and fourth division, so consequently, received all the prizes. The winners in the fifth and sixth division were: in the oral, Albert Johnson, first, Shirley Olson second, Marie Sasek third. In the written, Shirley Olson first, Albert Johnson second, Marie Sasek third. The winners in the seventh and eighth grade division were Joe Fuhr first, Mildred Scheinost second, Marlow Olson third. In the written Marlow Olson first, Mildred Scheinost second and Eileen Courtney third. The county contest will be held at Butte on March 3.

Cross Of Fire Burned At Gross

A cross of fire was burned at Gross Saturday night, so we understand. It created considerable interest and everyone in the neighborhood was out looking on. This usually indi­cates the presence of Ku Klux Klan. There was no demonstration and after the burning everyone retired to their homes peacefully and without comment. It is also reported that a cross was burned at Lynch Friday night.

1934 - Agriculture Program From The
Depression

February 22 -- 59 farmers from Morton Township signed up for Corn-Hog contracts.

April 12 -- Registration of relief program consisted or being paid with grocery money or "bean slips" as they were com­monly called. If clothing was needed more than groceries, it could be paid for clothing.' This was under a county work requisition under a new relief program.

May 24 -- Farmers relief could receive oats for small num­bers of livestock on County relief.

July 26 -- Cattle feeding program started. Anyone wishing to sell cattle to the government contacted the precinct com­mittee. If cattle were mortgaged, the owner had to have consent of the mortgage holder. The corn-hog committee is in charge and has started to buy in Morton.

July 19 -- Big cattle sales reported sold to the government. Boyd County people eligible for a new livestock loan could borrow '5 cents on a chicken, 75 cents on a sheep, $1.00 on each hog, $2.00 on each head of cattle and $4.00 on a horse per month.

' August 25, 1938 -- Many farmers test plotted hybrid corn

 

and sorghum from the county. Floyd Kelly who lives one mile east and one mile north of Gross tested four hybrids and two open varieties of corn. J. C. Robinson Co. of Iowa furnished the seed.

October 13 1938 -- The officers for the 1939 farm program elected in various precincts: For Morton is Alvin Londberg, chairman; L. W. McQuistan, vice-chairman. Alternates are Chris T. Neumiller, Carl J. Thorell and Carl Kay!.

Gross -1993

Population nine; has one business (bar and eating estab­lishment in one), a town hall with park, and a town well with a hand pump in the middle of the street.

At one time, was the smallest incorporated village in the U.S.

Artists have painted it.

Reporters have written about it which have appeared in newspapers throughout the U.S. People have talked about it from afar because of its good food and uniqueness.

People stop in because they have heard about it and are curious.

Others stop for nostalgic reasons because they remem­ber it from years past.

Others come for the comeraderie, good food, and the friendship everyone has for one another.

Neighbors stop in to talk over the current news, weather, crops, and drink its nickel coffee.

Its business isn't fancy nor beautiful; it may have dirt on its floor from the men's boots and the harshness of the country life and weather.

The business is just an old building, sitting way out all alone in the country but has the magnetism to draw people as much as any famous, glittering establishment. Women's Club and 4-H Club members, family reunions, receptions, etc. meet in its Community Hall. Children play in its park.

The people are strong willed who will fight for justice and in justice, with tenacity on one hand, and, on the other hand, be tender and caring -- lending a helping hand when needed, and compassionate when tragedy strikes.

Yes, there are people like that everywhere; and we are proud to be among them.

Letter written by John T. Best to his daughter, Sadie Best Folk.

Mother Gives Life In Vain

8-17-1922

Mrs. T. A. Cranford and two little daughters, living north­east of Gross, were drowned in the Missouri River, Sunday evening about six o'clock, at a point three miles north of Iron Post Landing. The alarm was given and search for the bodies began and kept up until Tuesday noon, when the last one, that of Mrs. Cranford, was found.

Frank Wiley, who was in town Wednesday evening, gave the details of the terrible tragedy. It seems that Mr. Cran­ford went down to the Missouri to visit some fish traps that he had set, and after visiting them, went down the river a short distance to the home of a neighbor. Mrs. Cranford and the two little daughters, Dorothy and Sybil, had accom­panied him, and were wading in the river. It is not known whether Mrs. Cranford was wading or not, but the two little girls evidently fell into a deep place, and the mother fol­lowed in an attempt to rescue them. Vivian, the four year old daughter, did not go in. Mr. Cranford did not g directly back to where they had been, but returned to the house and began doing the chores. Little Vivian came toddling up with the other girls' clothes, saying, "Dorothy and Sybil went in the river, and mamma went in, too." This was the first in­timation he had that anything was wrong.

The first body, that of little Sybil, was found at 12:30 o'clock a.m., and the body of Dorothy at 8:30 a.m. Mon­day. The body of Mrs. Cranford had floated a quarter of a mile from the place where the drowning took place, but the other two bodies were found a few feet from the spot where they went down.

The funeral was held at the Christian Church at Gross, at 5 o'clock, Tuesday evening, Rev. Gerrard of Bristow, of­ficiating. Interment was in the Gross Cemetery.

The Cranford family has a host of friends who were shock­ed and saddened by this terrible tragedy. Mrs. Cranford was 29 years old and the two little girls 11 and 8 years.

Lola Alice Wiley was born September 4, 1892, in Stanton county, Nebraska. The family came to Boyd County and settled near Gross, where she grew to womanhood, and w as married to T. A. Cranford, April 1, 1909. To this union six children were born, four of whom, with the grief stricken husband, survive her. She was a faithful, loving wife and mother, and a kind, considerate neighbor, beloved by all who knew her. The surviving children are: Floyd, aged 10; Audra, aged 6; Vivian, aged 4, and Wayne, aged 2.

Dorothy May Cranford was born November 3, 1910 and passed away August 13, 1922, aged 11 years, 9 months and 10 days.

Sybil Leona Cranford was born November 3, 1913, passed away August 13, 1922, aged 8 years, 9 months and 10 days.

Mrs. Cranford is also survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Wiley of Witten, S. D., two sisters, Anna and Rose, of

Witten, and five brothers, Wm. E. of Gross, Ed and Dennis of Spencer, Frank of Dustin, and Harry of Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. They were all present at the funeral except Harry, who is in the aviation service of the government. Other relatives present at the services were Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Cranford of Norfolk; Mr. and Mrs. John Beaudett of Magnet, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Weston of Norfolk; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cranford of Ravenna, S. D.; Pat Cranford of Hoskins, Nebraska, and Wren Cranford of Norfolk.

********************

CARD OF THANKS

To all the kind friends who did all they could for us in our grief, we return our heartfelt thanks for your kindness and sympathy.

1. A. Cranford and family.

Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Wiley.

OLD FORT RANDALL

Old Baldy Butte Has Seen Nebraska History Unfold

By Floyd Kelly

Bristow - East of Gross on the Nebraska bank of the Mis­souri stands "Old Baldy", our earliest recorded landmark. This is the last campsite of Lewis and Clark before they passed into what is now South Dakota on their journey west.

"Old Baldy" is the south one of two small buttes which stand on a band looking down stream. Probably the reason Lewis and Clark chose it for this campsite 150 years ago was its position and because its unique, cone shaped ivory head, or top, (giving it its name) made it easy to describe and to locate.

It stands surrounded by the blue Missouri mist, which on a still day grows to a blue haze over the river and its bluffs to the east and south. If the day is windy this changes to a grey fog from the clouds of fine river sand which boil up and down the river.

This butte (Old Baldy) has marked the coming and pass­ing of Indians, deer and buffalo. The Lewis and Clark ex­pedition, with one large boat having a sail and oars, and two smaller boats propelled by oars only, 44 men (with two horses for hunting) and supplies.

FUR TRADERS COME

After the Lewis and Clark expedition, fur traders and trap­pers passed here as the Missouri River was the "highroad" and the boat was the safest and surest transportation. With an increase in population, bringing an increase in traffic, came the steamboats puffing up the treacherous channel, where some unlucky boats encountered sand bars and snag, (the channel changed constantly). On Cans Island not too many years back, heavy cables -- thick as your wrist could be found, probably the souvenir of some unlucky boat which broke it, trying to cable off a sandbar. In 1856 the soldiers came, setting a black iron post about four inches square and four feet high. This post marked the southeast corner of Fort Randall military reservation (there are other iron posts at the other three corners of the reser­vation). The military reservation was a strip of land paralleled with the Missouri River about four miles wide and ten miles long. First Fort Randall itself was about six miles north of Iron Post in South Dakota and was built to protect the white settlers from the Dakotas (Sioux) Indians.

SETTLEMENT STARTED

By this iron post, a good steamboat landing was built, small settlement known as Iron Post Landing. This com­prised a hotel and tavern, livery barn, few houses, warehouses for produce and trade, and a brick kiln. All that remains now of Iron Post Landing is an abandoned farmstead, the house of which being the remains of the old hotel, the stone foundations of the stables, and to the south across a gully a pile of brick rubble probably the remains of the brick yard.

Ruts of the old wagon tracks can be seen going northwest toward old Fort Randall and another trails to the south and east. Those roads were used chiefly when the river was closed by the weather.

Charley Headley, whose family settled here about 1890, tells that they hauled their corn to Creighton to the south and east in the winter with teams, a long slow trip.

Fort Randall was abandoned in 1892 and the military reservation was opened to settlement. Iron Post Landing became the shipping point for Gross, then a large town (for its day) and steamboats were docking from Sioux City and east three times a week.

The steamboats carried livestock, grain and produce to market at Sioux City and brought back new settlers and merchandise.

PIGS BY BOAT

Claus Gehlsen who lives on his homestead about two miles north of Iron Post Landing has many times told me, "Steamboat is the ideal way to ship hogs to market at Sioux City," they pen them on deck and the cool river air keeps them comfortable."

The coming of the railroad to Bristow in 1903 and the river becoming too shallow for steamboats caused Iron Post Landing to be abandoned.

Time flowed on, population drifted backfrom the river and a school district that taught 25 to 30 children had nine, final­ly was abandoned, now no family lives in the district and it is joined with another and the school house gone.

Old Baldy, still and serene, looks down on deer, coon and coyotes watering at the river again. But to the north can be heard the throb and rumble of the gigantic construction - work at Fort Randall, where north of Bristow is being built the world's fourth largest dam, (Fort Peck No. 1; Oahe, No.

2; Garrison, No. 3;) all built to tame the turbulent Missouri. Through the blue Missouri mist to the east it almost seems you can see to where John Forsythe is finally getting his lake, which will back up from Gavins Point to Niobrara, forming Nebraska's major recreation area. This will be built on a tamed Missouri river, protected by those gigantic upstream dams.

 

Frank Pahl Murdered; Man Held

Spencer Garage Man Goes Out To Pull In Broken Car; Killed By Stranger

Frank Pahl, of Spencer, was lured into a trip to the country Sunday night about 10:30 o'clock, by a stranger, and mur­dered, by a blow in the back of the head with some blunt instrument, probably the crank of the car. The murderer then drove to the bridge four and a half miles north of Bris­tow and threw the body into a ditch, covering it partially with dirt pushed from an overhanging bank, with his foot.

The first suspicion of foul play came from Fairfax, where Peter Opbroek came in from his farm and reported that a stranger had left a car, saying that he had burned out a con­necting rod, and asked permission to leave it there for awhile. He then struck out across the field to Fairfax and arrived in time to get into a clothing store, where a school boy was sweeping out. He purchased fifty dollars' worth of new clothes and left an old outfit of bloody clothes, includ­ing muddy boots, and then took the morning train for the east. Then word came from the Orion Porter ranch that the stranger drove his car into his yard and lay down on the porch and slept till daylight, when Porter found him, and in­quired into his business. He pretended to be a man from Colome, driving a car belonging to a butcher, and that the blood which Porter noticed, was from the quarters of beef which he had carried and thrown into the car. He wanted to cross the Missouri, but on being informed that there was no ferry, drove off toward Fairfax.

With the description of the clothing purchased, the sheriff of Gregory county telephoned to Chief Pilger of the Norfolk police force, and half an hour later the suspect was under arrest. Pahl's name was on the car and as he was known to be a Spencer man, Sheriff Heenan was called on to help solve the mystery.

Tuesday, searching parties went out from Spencer and searched the whole country from the Ponca Creek north to the breaks of the Missouri, in an effort to find the body, without success. Martin Hansen, living four and a half miles north of Bristow, heard of the case, and remembered that his son had spoken of seeing a car driving along the road east of the farm. He had seen the car go up the steep hill north of the bridge at that point, and when it reached the top, the driver stopped, backed down the hill and then turned off the lights. Martin went home, and going over to the bridge, discovered the body. One foot and one hand had been left sticking out when the murderer covered the body with the dirt, as stated above.

It is stated that Pahl was employed to drive out into the country to get a car which the stranger intimated contained bonded whiskey. The man had offered the job to a young fellow, a son of J. S. Adkins, and offered him $75 to do the job. Mr. Adkins refused to let the boy go and then Pahl was hired. Whether the stronger only wanted to get the car or whether he knew the fact that Pahl was in the habit of car­rying considerable money in his pocket, is not known. At any rate, the departure at the hour stated, was the last seen of Pahl alive, the start being made from the Spencer hospi­tal, of which Mrs. Pahl is the matron. Mrs. Pahl thought they took the road to the south and stated that the stranger was riding in the back seat.

From all appearances, Pahl was killed soon after they left Spencer, for the wound is not one that would bleed rapid­ly, and he had undoubtedly been taken some distance in the back seat, after the murder, for bloodstains on the car indicted that the body had lain in the_, bottom and a pool of blood formed on the floor. When found, the body was bundled in the overcoat, as if the murderer had used the coat as a sort of net in dragging the body to the place of concealment.

The suspect, when arrested, was wearing a suit of clothes purchased at Norfolk. He admitted being the man who drove from Spencer with Pahl, and says they drove six miles out, where they met another man, and that Pahl pur­chased the liquor, and drove off with the third man, that he then took Pahl's car and started to Fairfax, disclaiming any further knowledge of Pahl, or the other man, who had divided the money received for the whiskey, before they separated. He had $365 in cash, and with what he had spent, must have had between four and five hundred dol­lars when he reached Fairfax. This would tally with the money Pahl had when he left Spencer, according to what Mrs. Pahl know of the matter. The arrested man gave the name of Walter R. Simmons, and also Walter R. Riley. He seemed to be unconcerned about the matter, and laughed and joked with the officers.

Sheriffs Heenan and Huston went to Norfolk Tuesday and brought Simmons back. Feeling ran high in Spencer all day Tuesday, and there were open threats of violence, so when the train reached Boyd county, it was a worried pair of of­ficers that prepared to get past the danger point. At Lynch some parties got on the train to see the man, and one remarked, "they're waiting for you at Spencer." The prisoner was taken to the baggage car and the doors locked. A large crowd was at the depot when the train pulled into Spencer, but no one offered to lead the bunch, and the train pulled out, without any trouble developing. The prisoner was taken to Burke, all the evidence up to that time pointing to the murder having been done in Gregory county.

The body was found about 8 o'clock Tuesday evening, and several hundred people at once flocked to the spot, coming from every part of the county. County Attorney Har­rington, as acting coroner, went down and viewed the body at the place where it was found, and ordered it removed to Bristow where the inquest was held Wednesday morning.

So far as could be seen, the death was caused by a blow in the back of the head, just back of the right car. There were no cuts, and few bruises, except some that may have been caused by the body being thrown down the tank of the gulch where it was found.

Pahl has lived in Spencer a good many years, being employed first by Herman Eucker in his livery barn, after­ward working in garages. He was a very quiet fellow and had little to say at any time, attending strictly to his own business. For sometime he has been using his car for livery purposes, and evidently the stranger spotted him as a man carrying money, and by promise of good wages for the trip, lured him to his death.

The testimony before the coroner's jury added little to the facts as stated above. Simmons was evidently alone in the job, and had offered Pahl $20 to go out and get his car, which he said was in Holt county, broken down. Frank Talich, of Bristow, the undertaker, testified that Pahl had been dead more than twenty-four hours when found.

Simmons declined to say where his home is, but some cards indicated that he was located at Centerville, S. D. were found in the bundle of clothes left at Fairfax. There is also a rumor that he had been in Tripp county for some time, and had acquaintances there.

Simmons was brought down from Burke Wednesday and lodged in the jail at this point. The time of hearing has not yet been set.

Simmons Poem Warns Against Bad Company

This poem was written by Walter R. Simmons, recently convicted of the murder of Frank Pahl of Spencer, while Simmons was a prisoner in the Butte jail awaiting trial:

 

THE SOUTH OMAHA GAMBLER
By Walter Ray Simmons

Come all my young companions, Wherever you may be

And listen to my story

And shun bad company.

 I was born in Old Montana

Among those lovely hills,

And the birth place of my childhood, Clings round my memory still.

I have four lovely sisters,

As dear as dear could be,

And on their knees before me. They'd often plea with me.

I also have a mother,

Who often prays for me.

And the last words that she told me, Was to shun bad company.

 I bid goodbye to loved ones, To all I bid farewell

And landed in So. Omaha, In the very midst of Hell.

 T'was there I took to gambling I sinned both night and day And then within my bosom A feeble voice would say.

 Oh: fare-the-well my loved one May God protect my boy,

And the blessings be upon you Throughout your manhood joy.

 Then I left the town forever With my saddle and one steed, Started North to settle down And fulfill my mother's pleas.

 Then trouble over took me Which you can plainly see, Now my life is ruined forever Beyond eternity.

 And if "convicted of this awful crime" My stay here won't be long,

You may forget the singer

Pray don't forget the song.

 I write this for my people, Please read it one and all

The last words that I'll have to say,

I did not kill Frank Pahl.

GROSS IN ASHES:

$36,000 Fire--$18,000 Loss!

ONE BLOCK OF NINE BUILDINGS AND THEIR STOCKS IN RUINS

A fire Tuesday destroyed the greater part of the business portion of the town of Gross, twelve miles northwest of Lynch. Nine business houses and three smaller buildings were burned entailing a loss of approximately $36,000 with insurance amounting to $16,950, leaving a total loss of about $18,000.

About 11:15 o'clock,,when almost everyone had retired and was asleep, the dreaded cry of "fire" was raised and the startled citizens turned out to find afire had started between Korab's saloon and the bowling alley and harness shop and was burning firecely and spreadking with lightning rapidity. F. J. Sellers, who sleeps in his harness shop, saved about half of his stock. J. J. Blair, who was in his store buying a bill of shoes of a traveling man, was able to save but little of his stock. The other stores were closed and, though far­ther from where the fire started, could not be opened in time to save much of their contents and that work was soon given over to an effort to confine the fire to one block and. by hard work, this was done.

Following is a list of the firms involved and their estimated loss with insurance carried:

	Loss	Insurance
Gross State Bank	$900	$800
L. Roudloff & Co.	9,000	3,300
Ella Smith & Co. General Merchandise	8,000	3,000
Stibe, Hardware & Furn.	5,000	3,150
J. J. Blair, Gen. Merchandise	3,800	2,000
F. J. Sellers, Harness Stock	700	700
W. Korab, Saloon Stock	5,000	3,000
G. W. Jenarie, 2 buildings	1,300	700
John Brimer, 1 building	1,000	000
T. H. Marcellus, Restaurant	400	300

In an hour and a half, the work of destruction was over and the smouldering ruins was all that was left of as progressive and thriving a row of business houses as was to be found in the state. The little old building at the east end of the block gives an added air of loneliness. A loss by fire always is a severe blow but, when half a community is wiped out, the blow is doubly severe and Lynch people, who have twice passed through the same experience, sym­pathize with our neighbors at Gross.

A number of causes were advanced Wednesday to a JOURNAL reporter, as to how the fire started but all seemed to think it was of an incendiary origin, yet it is hard to think of a man so devoid of principal and feelings for fellow men that he would start a fire under the conditions that existed Tuesday night.

The destruction of this block is a hard blow to the little town that has done a thriving business in the past. About one half of the business houses have been destroyed. None of the men burned out were prepared to say positively Wed­nesday that they would rebuild though Roudloff, Blair and the bank people expected to and some of the others also.

Quiet Wedding In Winner Monday

A wedding of unusual interest because of the prominence of the principals in the younger society set of the city, took place Monday morning at seven-thirty at the church of the Immaculate Conception. Father Vernig pronouncing the ceremony, when Miss Anna Marie Ernst plighted her troth to Mr. Jerry J. Loukota. Mr. Jack Leahy and Miss Josephine Ernest were the attendants. Mr. Joe Svehla served the wed­ding breakfast after which Mr. and Mrs. Loukota left for a wedding trip to Chicago and Beloit, Wis., and points in In­diana.

The bride was married in her traveling suit of blue with hat to match.

Mrs. Loukota came to Winner four years ago from Spen­cer, Nebr., and has been actively engaged in the business life of this city. She has at different times been employed by the Johnson Abstract Co., the Volz Abstract Co., and more recently by the Frescoln Abstract Co. By her charm­ing personality she has gained a wide circle of friends and her popularity increases with long acquaintance.

Mr. Loukota is an electrician and a young man worthy of such a bride.

 They will begin housekeeping on their return to Winner. The Journal, with their many friends, wishes them prosperity and happiness over the sea of matrimony. --Tripp County Journal

Last Rites Held For Jerry J. Loukota

A Mass of Christian Burial for Jerry J. Loukota, 88, Spen­cer, NE, was held on Tuesday, June 12, 1979 at St. Mary's Church in Spencer. Rev. Thomas Sellentine officiated. Pallbearers included Bernard Holmberg, Kyle Loukota, Gary Loukota, John Stephens, Jack Vondra, and Bud Vondra.

Military Rites were furnished by the American Legion, Luther Whidden Post 78 of Spencer.

Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery under the direction of Jones - Thenhaus Funeral Home.

Jerry was born on August 1, 1890 at Schuyler, Nebraska to Albert and Anna Bartosek Loukota. In the early 1890s the family moved to Chicago where Jerry grew to manhood; graduated from high school and played violin for the silent movies in the Chicago theatres. He also worked as a sales­man for the Overland Automobile Co. Expanding sales to the new west, he met and fell in love with Anna Marie Ernst. They deferred marriage until he returned from serving the country he loved so dearly in W.W. I. Declared dead, Jerry returned, severely wounded and highly decorated - only starting his valiant battle for God and Country. His many decorations include the Purple Heart.

On November 25, 1919, he married his sweetheart, Anna, at Winner, So. Dakota. They first lived in Hamill, So. Dakota where the first of four sons was born. In the early 1920s, Anna and Jerry moved to Gross, Nebraska where they be­came pillars of strength for the Boyd County area. Jerry happily served at many thankless and unpopular jobs, such as selective service (draft board) while struggling through the depression to raise their sons. They owned and operated a garage, grocery store and farm, until 1961 when they moved to Spencer. Jerry did whatever else was neces­sary to survive Routine was to have one or three jobs at a time and finish a long day playing in a local band. Most, if not all, of his reward for his work was to see others happy: He supported by "doing", be it inspiring a baseball game, teaching music to youngsters, organizing parades, count­ing election ballots, playing taps at a funeral, or anything else that needed to be done. Throughout his life he always had time for his love of music. His endless years of support of his community was recognized when he received the Nebraska Ak-Sar-Ben "Good Neighbor" award. A full life of love for God and mankind was Jerry's accomplishment.

He leave in mourning, his four sons, Jerald E. of Page, Arizona; William R. of Norfolk, NE; Theodore J. of St. Paul, Minnesota; Robert D. of Washington, D. C., sixteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. He joins his life's love, Anna, who died in 1964.

The family offers this poem in loving memory of everyone's friend, Jerry.

 It's time for this old soldier To finally get his rest

He fought a valiant battle He always gave his best.

 We're going to miss that smile of his That hat perched on his head. The friendly wave he always gave As through this world he sped.

He was loved by all his family And he loved them in return The respect of his community He certainly had earned.

 I wish that I could list for you All the good things that he did Like - always taking time to chat With each and every kid.

 He never met a stranger

His wit was always sharp

And when he said "Good Morning" He meant it from his heart.

MURDER AT GROSS

November 10, 1910

Con Kirwan Shoots Ed Jones; Quarrel over a Bet Con Kirwan shot and killed Ed Jones in the former's pool hall at Gross Friday night about seven o'clock. Jones was shot in the right breast, the bullet glancing downward and entering the lungs. He died almost instantly, only taking a few steps to the door and falling in his brother's arms, ex­claimed! "Harry, he shot me."

Many stories have been circulated as to the cause of the shooting, and it is said that trouble has been brewing for sometime between the two.

On the fatal night Kirwan bet ten dollars that he could get a man who would knock him, meaning Jones, out in two rounds. At this time they were in the saloon, later going to the pool hall to put up the money. Here Kirwan claimed that Jones owed him $10 on an old bet. This was denied by Jones. One word led to another when suddenly Kirwan whipped out a revolver with a threat. Wm. Paddock, who was standing near, said he wasn't afraid of his gun as long as he didn't pull the trigger. At this instance, Kirwan hit Pad­dock over the head inflicting an ugly wound. Jones made some remark at this and Kirwan whirles around and fires shooting Jones in the breast.

The dead man was removed from the place and the Coroner and Sheriff notified.

Following the shooting, Kirwan put out the light in the building and locked the door. Later he appeared in the street, flashing his gun and with vile language, threatened to shoot anyone who approached. By this time, the citizens were beginning to get worked up and a guard was placed around the building to prevent the escape of the murderer until Sheriff Bradstreet arrived. Two auto loads from Spen­cer, headed by Frank Heenan, deputy sheriff, and several autos from Bristow and Lynch were soon on hand and Deputy Heenan organized the guard and held everything in readiness for Sheriff Bradstreet who arrived a few minutes later. The sheriff immediately demanded Kirwan to surrender, but no reply was made and he ordered the guards to fire on the building. Volley after volley pierced the frame structure and finely Kirwan appeared at the door with revolver in hand. Sheriff Bradstreet, who was only a few spaces off, demanded him to surrender, he made no reply but retreated back in the room. The building was again rid­dled with bullets and all the windows shot out. He resisted arrest until about 3 o'clock in the morning when he ap­peared and gave up. He was placed in an auto and brought to Spencer for safe keeping by Deputy Sheriff Heenan and afterwards removed to the county jail at Butte. The prelimi­nary hearing will be held Friday.

Kirwan bears a bad reputation and it is said he has led a reign of terror to the quiet, law abiding citizens of the little village. It is also said that about a month ago he marched Jones out of town at the point of a revolver.

The prisoner will not talk much but says he shot in self defense. He remarked to the sheriff that he could have es­caped early in the evening and it is believed he made an at­tempt at liberty after the guard was placed around the building. He was seen leaving the house and making for a barn in the rear, two shots were fired and Kirwan returned. A check book showing where he had started to write the check made on the bet was found on the ground in the rear of the pool hall which probably fell from his pocket at this time.

The gun used in the shooting was afterwards found wrapped in a newspaper and hidden under a barrel of rub­bish. It was a 38-caliber and contained one empty and four loaded shells.

Coroner Beatty held an inquest over the body of Ed Jones and the jury returned a verdict that he came to his death by gun shot in the hands of Con Kirwan. The jury was com­posed of J. N. Sturdevant, W. J. Woods, T. C. Moolick, Wal­ter Gray, Jos. Rysavy, Carl Anderson.

Ed Jones is a young farmer about 28 years old and the son of Mrs. J. F. Jones, a widow who lives near Gross. The mother has our heartfelt sympathy of the entire community. The funeral was held in the church at Gross Monday morn­ing conducted by Rev. Cobb of Lynch. Deceased was a member of I.O.O.F. lodge of Lynch and a number of the order were present to participate in the ceremonies. The remains were interred beside his father in the Gross Cemetery.

 

Those Who Served In The Armed Services From Gross And The Surrounding Area

Axberg, Neil Edward Anderson, Bruce Wayne Anderson, Oscar Anderson, Arnold Anderson, Warren L. Anderson, Delwyn Blitzkie, Homer Bennett, Clayton Charles Burger, Edwin Eugene Boettcher, Donald Blair, Claud Boettcher, Walter R. Brandvig, John Bowman, Carl Derald Connot, John Ulrich Connot, Loyd Edward Cranford, Louis J. Dahlberg, Ernest Clifford Dahlberg, Vernon H. Dahlberg, Albert R. Fish, George K. Fredrickson, Arthur C. Fredrickson, John Wallace Frisch, Gordon Frank Fuhr, Jack Fuhr, Joe Fuhr, William F. Gehlsen, Jacob Gehlsen, Hans Gehlsen, James Lyle Hoffman, Kenneth Paul Hoffman, Robert Hume, Harold J. Havranek, Alvin W. Hoffman, Earl C. Hargens, Allen Ray Havranek, Leonard Eugene Hafsaas, Don, John Hambek, John J. Hammon, Phillip E. Hiserote, Chester J. Holmberg, Bernhard D. Havranek, Randy Wayne Holmberg, Wayne Otto Havranek, Kennard Joseph Havranek, Danny Lee Havranek, Raymond Johnson, Carl R. Johnson, Lawrence P. Johnson, Donald A. Johnson, Floyd John Johnson, Kenneth V. Johnson, Stanley Lee Johnson, Albert E. Johnson, Raymond Arthur Johnson, Robert Theodore Kayl, Arnold E.Klasna, Harold Duane Kirwan, Edward L. Kraft, Lloyd Henry Kraft, William Albert Kayl, Donald Joseph Kraft, Melvin Roy Loukota, Jerald E. Landholm, Willard L. Loukota, William R. Loukota, Theodore Joseph Loock, Harold Joseph Lauts, Albert Charles Long, Melvin Jay Lauts, Gary Dean Milacek, Joe W. Martinson, Millard Martinson, Leonard R. Milacek, James Stanley Mannhalter, Harold Dean Mahlendorf, Henry D. Mashino, Cecil Roger Mashino, Charles August Mahlendorf, Charles Leonard McCright, Lyle B., Jr. Milacek, Leslie J. Milacek, Phyllis J. Nelson, Milton Benjamin Nyquist, Victor LeRoy Nelson, Oliver Myron Neumiller. Paul Melvin Neumiller, Arthur Alvin Nelson, Clifford Duwane Nyquist, Paul William Olson, Marlowe B. Ohri, Andrew Leo Pokorny, George Edward Papstein, Walter A. Prokop, George J. Prokop, Emmanuel R. Petersen, Marvin August Pfeifer, Joe J.Papstein, Ernest W. Pelc, Walter Peniska, Jack L. Papstein, Donald John Pelc, Gordon Dean Pelc, Howard Ray Scheinost, William A. Scheinost, Charles Chester Simonds, Darrel W. Scheinost, Kenneth Frank Tork, Vernon George Velder, Daryl R. Wiley, William E. Wendt, Vernon A. Wiley, Edward H. Wendt, Wayne William

Men Who Served In The Armed Forces From The Randall Valley Area

Adam, Albert Adam, Almon Adam, Ralph Donlin, Thomas, Jr. Kirwan, Donald Kirwan, Eugene Kirwan, Fred Kirwan, Jim Kirwan, Michael, Jr. Kirwan, Mike Kirwan, Phillip Lich, Alvin Pearson, Friedolph Ridder, Gustav (Civil War)

Trustee, Francis

*Obtained from people living in the Randall Valley area.

Bruce Anderson Specialist Four E4

Bruce W. Anderson was drafted into the Army in the fall of 1965. After a year of training in the States he was sent to the Republic of Vietnam. The ship landed at Quin-non on the coast. He served one year near Plieku in the Highlands of Vietnam. He was assigned with Headquarters 4th In­fantry Division as a power man.

While there, on January 3, 1967 he sustained a fragmen­tation wound in the leg from an incoming mortar round, but successfully turned off all power before requesting medical aid. He was awarded the Purple Heart and also the Bronze Star Award. After his tour of duty and returning to the States, he was given an honorary discharge from the Army in 1967.

Submitted by Aileen Anderson
March 29, 1928

Memories of Gross Civil War Veteran

Michael Headley was born in Paris, May 10th, 1843. He moved with his parents to America at the age of five, and settled at Zanesville, Ohio. Mr. Headley said that "his father brought him to this country to get him away from war," but at the age of nineteen he enlisted in the 122nd Ohio Volun­teers.

He saw three years of service. He was at Gettysburg. In '63 and '64 through the wilderness to Petersburg. Then his division was ordered back to the Shenandoah valley, where he was captured at Sheridan's ride and was in prison seven months at Libby, Belle Island and Salisbury.

child and will die before morning. Will you let my parents know what became of me?" Mr. Headley promised, and after he got out of prison he sent a telegram to these people telling of their son's death. He said he told them there was no use to search for his burial place, for he was laid in a trench with others. Mr. Headley received an answer to the telegram.

Another prison experience was when the captain said to him, "Baldy," (He called Mr. Headley "Baldy" because his hair was cut short.) "Form the men in line, 45 of them, we are going to retaliate for what Custer did at Ft. Royal." Mr. Headley said his hair was short but it stood straight up, but he got the men into line and reported, "Captain, your or­ders have been obeyed." The Confederate captain went down the line and picked out seven men who were ordered to be shot.

Of his field experiences Mr. Headley has a vivid memory and it was with much interest we listened as he told of them. He was in 47 battles and several skirmishes. Col. Keefer of Ohio, later speaker of the House, was a comrade. Mr. Headley said that one night in a skirmish he was chasing a confederate soldier and jumped over a rail pile into a bunch of thirteen gray coats. One said, "Yank, if we had wanted to fight you wouldn't have stood there very long." These men had been fighting all day without food or water and were tired out.

At Frederick City, Md., while out scouting he jumped a five foot fence and never touched it. He wanted to cross a rail­road track to get among his comrades and he said, "The bullets were talking to my legs. He said, "At Monocacy we held them at bay one day, then went to Baltimore and on to Washington to meet the balance of the corps, and "Abe Lincoln" was down at the wharf and took us each by the hand and said "Boys, go up on the hill. I will be up there after a while." After Lincoln got on the hill he stood upon the fort and watched the shells fly. The captain told him to get down, and he said, "I am no better than the rest of you." The captain said, "Mr. Lincoln, we are responsible for you, now get down!" So, Mr. Lincoln got down.

After that we followed Early up the valley to Strausburg. Sheridan had been to Washington, and had got back as far as Winchester, when he heard the firing and rode as fast as he could for the battle line. He met some of the boys on retreat and said, "Boys, if you want to fight, fall into the first command you come to. If you don't get on a hill and look

1. Boys, we will camp on our old camp ground tonight." The boys cheered, and the enemy, thinking we had reinfor­cements, fell back. Mr. Headley says, "Our corps carried the day at that battle."

In the Battle of the Wilderness on the 6th of May, Lee maneuvered around to the flank of the Union army trying to get between them and Washington. Grant said, "If he wants to go to Washington, let him go," and he ordered Burnside with 35,000 negroes straight to Richmond. Mr. Headley says, Lee changed his mind about going to Washington and I remember them saying among our prisoners, "The Yanks have a leader now."

Before Lincoln was re-elected, a man asked Mr. Headley who was going to be elected president. Mr. Headley said, "Lincoln, with the biggest majority ever put over." "Why do you think so?" "The letters we get from home and the sen­timent in the army."

Mr. Headley says he "walked from one end of Virginia to the other in mud and slush, often all night and finding a rail to sleep on in the morning, and that he was never sick a day through all the war until he was exchanged from prison in the Spring of '65. The war was about over then. He went first to Indianapolis, where he wished to re-join his com­pany. But they said they had men enough to finish it up and sent him to Columbus, Ohio, to a hospital, where later he received his discharge. When he was able to work again he went back to his old occupation of farming and has been at it ever since.

He was married in Shocton county, Ohio, March 14, 1870, to Nancy J. Kinsey. They came to Iowa three years later. Mr. Headley drove through alone in a covered wagon. Mrs. Headley came on the train after he had located near Har­lan, then fourteen miles from a railroad. Two years later a tornado blew their house away and their infant son lost his life in the storm. They came to Boyd county, Nebraska, in the Spring of 1891 and homesteaded north of Lynch, then 45 miles from a railroad. They lived there until 1904 when they sold their land and bought a farm two miles north of Gross, Nebraska, where he raised thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and some fine horses and mules. Mr. Headley is a good judge of livestock and in his farming and stock-rais­ing activities he handled from four to six hundred acres of land. About ten years ago they moved into the village of Gross, where Mr. Headley spends his time looking after his grapevines, gardens and poultry.

Mr. Headley's home has always been noted for its hospitality. A place where friend and stranger alike were made to feel at home. He has hosts of friends who love to

Hans and Jake Gehlsen (1945) visit him and hear stories of his life, which has been so rich in experience. He has five living children, seven living grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Submitted by Mrs. A. W. Wiley.

Jake Gehlsen

Jacob Gehlsen

November 10, 1991

Jacob Gehlsen, who served as a Marine, was among 300 people who turned out Nov. 10, 1992 at Kearney, Nebras­ka to honor Nebraska survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii from the December 7, 1941 air raid that brought the United States into World War II. Com­memorative 50th Anniversary U. S. mint bronze medals were presented to the 150 survivors and next of kin of Pearl Harbor Veterans.

George W. McCright

Mr. McCright homesteaded near Gross in 1894. He was the last Civil War Veteran in the county. He was born in Greenvile, PA, March 28, 1845. He came to Iowa where he enlisted and served with Co. C of the 171st. Ohio Regiment until the end of the war. He received an honorable dis­charge. After his discharge he married Sussane Holman December 14, 1867 in Independence, IA. They came to Boyd Co. and homesteaded near Gross in 1894. Sussane died in 1929 and George December 1936. Three sons and two daughters survive them.

LOCAL HISTORY & BUSINESS

Today the Gross tavern, still called Nebrask Inn, has be­come much more than just a tavern. It is also a social place for food, visiting, and friendship. Besides serving ham­burgers, the menu has expanded to serve french fries, fried onion rings, fish sticks, and much more. Full dinners are served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday noons with extras of homemade soup and pies. Friday and Saturday even­ings are grilled steaks, baked potatoes, salad bar in addi­tion.

People come from many miles to eat at this popular little place. It is a family place with young families feeling free to bring the children. In the summers, the children play in the park across the street and the young adults play volleyball in the park. It is a social gathering place over coffee in the mornings as well. Darts, cards, and pool are played there, too.

Mike and Mary serve dinners for seed corn companies and their customers for company presentations, other feed companies, organizations as well. It is a hubbub of activity during deer and turkey seasons with hunters from many states.

Instead of the streets haying horses, wagons, and bug­gies, they are now full of parked cars and pickups.

Gross Coyote Club

It started one evening in the Nebrask Inn at Gross. It was the winter of 1974-75. Some local farmers had gathered at the Nebrask Inn for an evening of cards and conversation. When the conversation turned to coyotes, everyone had a story to tell of seeing coyotes running in packs of large numbers or of losing calves and other livestock to these predators. As the evening wore on, they decided rather than talk about the losses and destruction, they would do something about it. That evening a small group of people started the Gross Coyote Club. The next Sunday morning they, and anyone else interested, would meet at 7:00 am at Gross and the hunt would begin.

The hunting was usually conducted section by section of land. The first day was "chaos". They would pull into a sec­tion of land and coyotes would run everywhere. Hunters would go in every direction. Mostly the coyotes ran by the hunters and went on their way. The percentage of coyotes seen to those taken that first day was "maybe" one percent. As the hunts progressed through the winter and the hunters became more organized, the odds changed.

The winter of 1976 the Gross Coyote Club enlisted the help of a local pilot, Roger Woolf to fly his airplane and spot coyotesforthem. This added a lot of excitement to the hunt. The plane would land in the nearest smooth field and the pilot would get in the closest pickup to warm up and then off they'd go again.

The Gross Coyote Club continued to hunt into the mid 1980s and then begin to slow down a little. They held par­ties for all the landowners and their families once a year from the money they received for the furs. This was a large community event.

The local people still hunt coyotes in the Gross area. Original Gross Coyote Club Members: Steve Benson, Hugh Benson Sr. Gary Scheinost, Ed Howell, Kenny Hav­ranek, Verlin Gehlsen, Jack & Phyllis Rowles, Frank Pfeifer, E. H. Wenke, Al Hargens, Bill McNiel, Vernon Wendt, Mar- C

Marty Neilan, Ed Howell, Dewey Ludemann, Jim Cook, Edward Ludwig, Charlie Mashino, Chad Kayl, Dawn Gehisen, James Gehlsen, Pat Kayl, Corey Finnegan.

History of Ft. Randall

by Ted Lauts (Given by Hanna Sinclair)

Henry Fredrichsen homesteaded in Ft. Randall in the year 1876 on the place south of the John Cassidy place. From their home, to get provisions, they had to go to Niobrara or Armour, SD. When they went to Armour, they had to go in the winter time as they had to cross the river on the ice. Each trip took two days. Henry Fredrichsen loaned Ben Gross $800. With the money, Ben Gross started a store in Gross. He became wealthy while here, but later moved to Montana and started a store there and went completely broke.

Mrs. Sinclair went to school at Ft. Randall in the Ft. Ran­dall castle. I asked what grade she was in. She said during those days there were no grades. They went by books. Only books they had were ones they brought there. They had school only three months during the year. As a small child, she walked one and a half miles each day to school.

Te tower on Ft. Randall church was not a bell tower but was used as a _.lookout for Indians.

Chick Sinclair's father was one of many men that went to Ft. Randall to steal wood. They got caught and they had to go to Lincoln, NE, to be punished. When they told the judge they stole the wood to burn to keep themselves and their families warm, he set them free.

 There were many battles with the Indians and many white soldiers were killed. The soldiers were buried in the Ft. Ran­dall cemetery. But the Indians were buried mostly wherever they were killed. It was common for a white man to plow up Indian graves when plowing his fields. They knew it was an Indian grave as all his possessions were buried with him, such as beads, etc.

They had a sun dial at Ft. Randall. Once, not so long ago, an official from Pierre, SD, came to interview Mrs. Sinclair and told her she was the oldest living woman on the military reservation. The road is till visible close to their present home that the soldiers used it traveling from Ft. Randall to Niobrara looking for Indians.

Indians would get their clothes from the Government and then the Indians would sell the clothes to the white people. That is how the white people would get a lot of their cloth­ing. The Indians would trade for anything to eat. If a white man had a dog he wanted to get rid of, he could get a very good deal.

Mrs. Sinclair was very scared of the Indians. One time she said she ran a mile as she thought the Indians were after her. Mrs. Sinclair was once bitten by a rattlesnake. The snake bite was above the ankle and hung on for a long time. It was three months before she was able to walk again. She was eight years old at the time.

The Wilson Ranch

The ranch belonged to a Mr. Wilson. My father, Ed Hines, managed it until he was able to purchase it. I remember Ted and Mildred Wilkey running it for my father for about 6 years. I stayed down there for a week or two each summer.

In 1946, in the fall, my husband, Jack Peniska, and I moved down and ran it on shares for about another 6 years. I joined the Gross Women's Club, and when the roads were bad I would ride a tractor or horse to the meetings. My son, Jackie, went with me most of the time.

In May, 1953, we moved to Arizona. Leo Duran stayed for a short time and ran the ranch until my father sold^'it.

 

Submitted by Ramona S. Eaton

Gross Store

The Gross Store was operated by Theodore Anderson during the 1920s and then by Francis T. Anderson, his son. Later it was operated by Howard Miller.

In 1939 the store was purchased and operated by Jerry and Anna Loukota. Bill and Ted Loukota owned and operated it from 1947 to 1953. Ted and Dena Loukota owned and operated it from 1953 to 1954. Mr. and Mrs. Hammon ran it for 2 years before selling it back to Jerry and Anna Loukota. They ran it until 1961 when the store was closed and the fixtures and building sold. It reopened as a tavern in 1963.

Submitted by Ted and Dena Loukota

Gross Cash Store

The Gross Cash Store was the very heart and soul of Gross, NE. It was a place, not only for making needed pur­chases, but meeting and visiting with neighbors and friends.

The store was truly a "general" store -- and a "one-stop shopping center." If you had cream and eggs to sell, needed a new pair of shoes or overalls, a bolt to fix that piece of machinery, something soothing for that upset stomach, a few yards of material to make a new dress, some tobacco for your pipe, a cold bottle of soda pop -- or some hotdogs for supper -- you could find it at the store. In the spring, you could order your baby chicks and buy the feed there.

If you needed to mail a letter or package, buy some stamps, or pick up your mail, the post office was also in­side the store. Anna Loukota was Postmistress from 1939 until it was closed in 1959.

Another feature of the store for many years was the "egg route." Bill and Ted Loukota went many miles each week to deliver groceries and supplies, and buy cream and eggs from those people who found it difficult to get to town.

In the early years, the supplies for the store would come in by train to Bristow and would have to be hauled to Gross from there. Among the companies that supplied the store were: H. P. Low and Nash-Finch, groceries; Hess - Mallory, dry goods; Hinkle and Joyce, hardware; Dr. Pepper Bot­tling Co., beverages. They also sold Norge and Westin­ghouse appliances.

 

Submitted by Ted and Dena Loukota

Rural Water District #2

Since the District serves many people in the Gross area, it was felt that a few lines should be written about the dis­trict.

Naper Rural Water District #1 was formed to serve 21 to 23 farmers in the Naper area. Water District #2 was formed later to serve Spencer, Lynch and Anoka towns and many farms. The Rural Water District #2 construction in 1978 was reported to be the largest project in Boyd County since the REA came into the county. Later on in 1983, an area was added in western Knox County as well as additional farms in Boyd County.

Since water north of the Niobrara River in Boyd County was not acceptable, a tract of land was purchased 1 1/2 miles south of Spencer Dam and two wells were dug sup­plying very high quality water in all respects.

A steering committee was formed in 1971. Five farmers were on this steering committee. Louis Klasna was on the steering committee, first serving as treasurer and then as Secretary- Treasurer to the present time.

William Spelts of Lynch was hired as manager and the 1992 officers are: Ken Boettcher, Pres.; Rick Pritchett, Vice Pres.; Louis Klasna, Secretary-Treasurer and members Ken  Hoffman, Charles Mashino, Joe Hausmann and Dawn Gehlsen. The latter being the director living closest to Gross and is very active in the Water #2 District.

 

Submitted by Louis Klasna

Eagle Refuge

In the northeast corner of Morton Township are 25 acres that is the southern tip of Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge. Starting in late October, peaking in December and January and leaving in early March, about 250 bald eagles winter in the refuge.

An excellent place to see eagles pluck fish from the water is a small parking area below the dam and close to the river bank between the power house and the boat ramp. Eagles prefer feeding during the morning, other times they roost within 50 ft. of the river bank preferring tall cottonwood trees.

Some History of Iron Post Landing

Charles Billick bought thirteen acres of land near the Iron Post landing and built a stone house using local stone found in that area.

Seeing the great need for a ferry boat to transport teams and wagons to the South Dakota side of the Missouri River, he built the first ferry boat in 1899 naming it "The Little Pearl". This venture turned out to be such a great success, Elmer Stumbo wanted it, so he traded Charles 160 acres of land on the banks of the river for the ferry and the 13 acres with the stone house. Now he had to build yet another house for his family. A larger two story house was built. This house was often referred to as "the hotel" because they often gave people lodging and meals.

The Iron Post landing developed into a small town with three steamboats from Sioux City transporting goods. Charles Anderson had a lumberyard; Frank Sanders, a small grocery store, Frank Donnely worked for Leach

buying and selling grain and hogs. Charles Billick had built and opened a hardware store which he operated.

In 1900 Frank Sanders wanted to start a post office at the Iron Post landing. In order for it to be approved the place had to have a name. It was named Towers. By 1905, Char­les Billick started yet another venture to add to his previous ones; that of making bricks. John Chambers and his father had made bricks at Lynch in past years so John was hired to oversee the work and a kiln was built at Towers for drying the brick. On a hill south from the Iron Post was found clay suitable for brick.

The Gross Garage

1921-1947

Except for the four years from 1935 to 1939, the "Gross Garage" was owned and operated by Jerry Loukota. The original building was destroyed by a tornado in 1921 or '22, but was rebuilt soon after.

There were three gas pumps in front of the garage. The inside was fully equipped with a forge; an anvil; a carbide  welder; grinder and polishers all run by a one-cylinder gas engine.

In the early years, Jerry repaired harnesses and buggywheels. He made and sharpened knives, remade plow lays and sharpened cycles. He also "shoed" many of the horses that pulled the buggies.

In later years, there were all kinds of car, truck and engine repairs to do, not to mention the tires and tubes to fix. Many people around Gross purchased their cars and trucks from Jerry.

On the east side of the garage building, there was a small office. One day, when "one" of the Loukota Boys was found treating all his friends to candy bars down at Theodore Anderson's store -- it appeared that "someone" had lifted a hefty 50 cents from that office!!

The office area was later enlarged and made into the Gross Tavern.

Submitted by Ted and Dena Loukota

SCHOOLS

Gross School District #69

The first school was held in the town hall which was moved in from Ft. Randall and was located east of where the present schoolhouse stands. In about 1897 John and Mart Long build a one-room schoolhouse and the first teacher was Stella Cart who later married Frank Couch. In 1900 a two-frame room was built, under the direction of S. S. Par­sons. Later a large room was built on the north, making it as it is today; also providing for a two year high school. At one time, the enrollment showed 160 students. A state cen­sus of 1903 showed nearly 400 residing in Gross. Early teachers were Anna Bloom, Allen Sinclair, Miss O'Neill, Clara Headley, Miss Derek, and Mr. Money.

In 1943 the high school was closed; the grade school had an enrollment of only four pupils then, but by the mid-fifties, there were over 30 pupils in the district and had two teachers in the grades. In 1964 District 29 consolidated with the Spencer District #17. This was a painful experience for many patrons and a nightmare for the school board. Following consolidation it operated as a Satellite school and the high school students were bused into the Spencer Public School beginning in the fall of 1964. The school was closed in 1965 and all students were bused into Spencer. Before consolidation the last school board of District 69 were Mrs. Vernon (Mary Lou) Wendt, chairman; Norman Anderson, secretary; and Joy W. Howell, treasurer. Mrs. Robert (Vada Long) Whetham was the last teacher. Miss Salina Hebner was the County Superintendent and retired in 1963. Mrs Van Woerkum was the last teacher in the Satel­lite school.

Gross School In Its "Hay" Days

1920-1930

The school building was divided into three rooms. The first room had grades 1-3; the middle room housed grades 4­7; and the third room had the high school students. In ad­dition to a large school bell that hung for Mower and could be heard for miles, the school had a large playground, a well, and a coal and cob bin for fuel, and best of all, it had a large barn with a hay left for pitching woo!

Horses were the main mode of transportation for many of the children, especially high school. Seems most of the stu­dents headed west after school. The horses had two gaits; one going to school and the other coming home. Some­times the Cassidy's horses would get out of the barns and go to school by themselves and eat Holmberg's hay or just graze on the school ground.

There were no horses ever ridden to school more than the Cassidy's horses, especially the buckskin Pomeny. As one group graduated from the 10th grade, others took their place but Pomeny always kept coming back. He was rid­den mostly with just a rope around his neck. Pomeny was also known as Caesar.

On special occasions, Lawrence used to drive the Model T to school, but for the most part, we were riding horses.

 Bessie (Pomeny's mother) was ridden by the two girls, Mar­garet and Regina. Pomeny carried Lawrence and Vincent, and Queen carried Lewis and Edwin. (This arrangement changed from time to time). We had no saddle (Dad saw someone get his foot caught in the stirrup and died as a result) so we rode horses bareback. Most of the hair disap­peared from the sides of the horses where our legs touched with every stride. Bessie wouldn't gallop for the girls, espe­cially in the mornings. They would fall behind so they would yell and stream until out of embarrassment, the boys would stop and wait for them to catch up. One morning, Margaret was riding Bessie and decided to take her for a drink. Be­ssie trotted to the tank, stopped short and put her head down quickly and upset Margaret into the icy water and took off.

I remember the teachers and some of the children attend­ing school. Remember this was in the 1920s, so here is the best of my recollection.

Teachers: Marie McQuistan - little school; Helen Mulhair or Ada Loomis - middle school; and Irene Dye - the higher grades.

Children: Otto Holmberg, Norman, Richard, Pauline and Norma Anderson; Jake and Harold Hume; Bill, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Marie Henry; Kenneth and Kathryn Twist; Zona Chris; Evelyn Fish, Doris Johnson; Maxine and Lawrence McQuistan; Lenia Anderson; Hilda, Minnie, and Lilly Holmberg; Joe McCright; Stanley and Richard Oster­tag, Rudolph Westerman, and Margaret, Regina, Lawrence, Lewis, Vincent and Edwin Cassidy. (My apologies to any I forgot).

In the 1930s the depression began to sink in. I began teaching at District 74 in 1934 and got paid $35.00 per month. And for this, I built my own fires, carried water for the children from Connot's well, and was the janitor. And guess what -- Pomeny was my main means of transporta­tion. In the dust storms I carried some children home on my back.

 

Submitted by Vincent Cassidy

Schools of Yesteryear

By Vada Long Whetham

My family was always education conscious and as far back as^.there are records, their involvement has been evi­dent. They were builders, teachers, board members, stu­dents and gave both time and money. My parents (Ray and Kate Long) wished us all to get a good education and it was a dream come true when we all, including Garry, earned a High School Diploma and I believe they would have been doubly proud when so many earned College Degrees.

My Grandfather Zach, Uncles Mart and John Long were more than a little involved in Dist. #63, Pleasant View. This was the home district where my dad and his siblings received their education as well as their children and, as it turned out, grandchildren. The first school was held in a private home (soddy) in the spring of 1894. In 1898, another sod structure was built 1 /4 mile west Both were 12 x 16 feet with two small windows. Many students were enrolled and the benches were furnished by the families. Uncle Mart Long was the first teacher, term being 3 months at $30 per month. The second school was built in 1901, a frame build­ing 16 x 32 feet. In 1914, a 32 x 32 foot building replaced the early one, two rooms, and an entry way, grades 1-10 and two teachers. Remnants of the old soddy were visible for many years. Now all the structures are gone. (1992)

While living on Uncle Mart Long's place, Ira, myself (Vada), Myron and Helen started to school at Dist. #33. It was organized 22 January 1892. Uncle Mart held school in his soddy before a sod school was built 1/2 mile west of where we attended. A frame structure had replaced the sod one and in 1921 another school was built. In 1929, it was made the third standard school in the county. Quite a few Long and related families also attended there. We moved away in 1926. That school is also abandoned.

There was another school in the northeastern part of the county in the hills near the Missouri River down near the Iron Post Landing The freighters went between the Land­ing delivering goods to Gross and the pioneers sent their commodities down the river. The school down in that area was called "Deep Dale" and had a big enrollment. It has long since been abandoned.

When we moved into the Gross vicinity in 1925, we at­tended Fort Randall School Dist. #26 (Donlin). I was the only Seventh Grader so the teacher (Ellen C. Pike) put me in the Eighth'Grade with my brother Ira, Agnes, Bernice and Raymond Kirwan. Sixth Graders were: Irene, Morris and Neil Kirwan and Chester Fisher. Fifth Graders were: Donald and Jerry Kirwan_, and Myron and Helen Long. Hattie Mae Kirwan, Fourth Grade; Loraine Kirwan, Third Grade; Marian and Donald Fisher, Elizabeth and Bernard Kirwan and Ed­ward Gongier were Second Graders and Dennis Kirwan and Jessie Trusty were First Graders. The School board consisted of G. A. Ferris, Chairman; E. L. Kirwan, Clerk and E. B. Kirwan was the Treasurer. That school still stands very much in need of repair.

Ira and I passed our exams and entered the Ninth Grade in Gross, Dist. #69. My Uncles, John and Mart Long, built the first school in 1897. It was a one room frame structure. It was replaced by others including the one Ira and I at­tended. Mr. E. G. Wells was the teacher and Kathryn Run­dall was the Superintendent. I remember we all got the measles and had to take our final exams about two weeks after school was out.

After we married, Bob and I moved down on the Long Place. Maxine and Loren attended the Donlin School as I had. I returned as the teacher in Gross in 1958, twenty years after attending school there.

There was one more School I was affiliated with in the Gross trading area but as a parent. District #2, located just west of the Swedish Lutheran Church in Randall Valley and almost straight north of Gross. Phyllis and Lloyd were school age also. We left in 1943 so Mary didn't start until we were in Holt County, NE. That school still stands along with the church. The school hasn't been used for years but the church is opened for special occasions.

District 62

(Pleasantview)

The first school house was opened November 21, 1893. It was just a soddie 14x20 ft. with two half windows. Each family provided benches for their children. There were many pupils enrolled. The first frame building was replaced in 1901.

In 1914, the two room school house was built. It measured 32x32. At one time Pleasantview had a high school to the 10th grade. This was discontinued in 1946 with students going to Lynch. This district consolidated with Lynch in 1964 but only the 7th and 8th grades traveled to town. Dis­trict 62 was a satellite for K-6 for 1 more year.

School Days

By Bernard Holmberg

I started grade school in Gross District 69 in the fall of 1942. There were six first graders -- Louise Neumiller, Lola Wiley, Lillian Birger, Michael Kirwan, Martin Engelhaupt and myself. Cleo Kelly was our teacher. Delores VanHove taught the Jr. High in the next room. That was the last year for the 9th & 10th grades.

In the Spring of 1943, Neumillers moved to Naper, NE, and the Joy Howell family moved to that farm. moved into their place. Kirwans also left.

In the fall of 1943 there were four 2nd graders and a new teacher, Alma Thorell. Mrs. Thorell taught for the next four years in Gross. She was one of my best teachers and I now appreciate what she has done for us during those years. Over the years, families moved from the Gross Com­munity, and in the fall of 1947 Melvin Kraft and I were the only two in the 7th grade. LaVern Pokorny was our teacher. When we began 8th grade, Melvin and I were again the only two with Clair Hensley as our teacher. The following year I went to High School in Spencer.

I would like to thank the people of Gross for taking care of me and my sisters when storms came up and we could not get home, such as Jerry Loukotas and Mrs. Thorell. At that time we lived four miles north. I rode my horse to school every day and on at least one occasion, I remember having to get a bale of hay from Norman Anderson. When my sister, Rose Marie and cousin, Rita Holmberg, started to school, I drove our Ford Tractor and pulled them in a trailer. Norman helped me with my tractor a number of times when I had trouble.

One Spring when I was driving to school I drove across Joy Howell's new alfalfa seeding. I appreciated him not ap­pearing to be as upset as my Dad was when he found out.

During the time I attended school at Gross, most of the young men in the community were away during the Second World War. I remember when these young men returned home. It was quite a celebration for the community.

ROSEDALE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH

As early as 1890 Swedish people moved to the Bristow and Gross area from Oakland and other places. Boyd County welcomed individuals and families for homestead­ing the Fort Randall territory. The pioneers of this com­munity were interested not only in their own spiritual edification but also in spreading the Gospel to others. Ola Jonason seems to have been the first person to call the new Swedish settlers together for prayer and testimony. The Christians took part in these revival meetings with great en­thusiasm and warm- heartedness. Meetings were held in the sod houses in which they lived.

The first traveling minister to visit the new settlement was the Reverend Nils Olson. During his visit, a revival occurred and the group of believers was increased and strengthened. The new work was blessed with numerous talented individuals who shared the Gospel in both work and deed.

The time came when these pioneers, who broke ground 1 in both the temporal and spiritual sense, felt the need of a more organized form of the work. For this purpose, a meet­ing was called by Ola Jonason at the home of C. J. Stark on the 23rd of March, 1891. At this meeting, the congrega­tion was organized with A. M. Lundquist as its first chair­-man and J. A. Johanson as its secretary.

. During the years 1891 to 1899 the meetings were held in a school house since individual homes had become too small to accommodate the people. In 1894, Sam Nelson donated a piece of land on which to erect the church. Con­tingent upon good crops, the construction of the church would commence in the fall. That year did not bring a good crop, so the building project was postponed.

Although the church could not be built, as aforemen­tioned, it was not forgotten but discussed at each ensuing business meeting. In 1899, a sanctuary was finally con­structed. It was built on land purchased from John Hultquist. The land received from San Nelson was utilized for the Rosedale Church Cemetery.

 

As time passed, the church felt a need to call a permanent pastor, who without any other occupation, had been set apart for the service of the Lord. The following ministers have faithfully served our community of faith:

Reverend O. H. Miller                                         1901-1902

Reverend John Johnson                                    1904-1906

Reverend E. Engstrom                                       1906-1908

Reverend O. W. Bengston 1909-1914 (served both the Rosedale and Randall Valley congrega­tion)

Reverend John Johnson (second term)

Reverend E. Youngberg                                              1922

Reverend Rudolph C. Hvass                             1922-1925

Reverend Edwin A. Johnson                             1926-1927

Reverend Renius Johnson                                1927-1931

Reverend August Johnson                                1931-1947

Reverend Carroll A. Lind                                    1948-1951

Reverend Harold Nelson                                    1952-1953

Reverend Paul Nelson                                       1953-1957

Reverend Everett Wilson                                   1957-1958

Reverend D. Elroy Anderson 1958-1966 Robert Conklin and Gordon Lorenz filled the pulpit in ab­sence of a minister.

Reverend Alvin Mattox                                       1967-1982

Reverend Larry Dieckman                                 1983-1986

Reverend Terry A. Mattson                               1987-1991

Reverend Kenneth Busse 1992-Present Three young men from our church prepared to be mini­sters, namely Gottfred Anderson, Maynard Londberg, and Eldon Johnson.

During the year 1903 a parsonage was constructed. In 1914, an addition to the church became necessary since the original building could not accommodate all. who gathered to worship. Due to bad crops, the project was delayed until September 25, 1916 at which time a cornerstone of the new church was laid. The new edifice was dedicated September 16, 1917. In the fall of 1915;-a light plant was purchased for the church. A full basement and a pipeless furnace were installed in 1922.

A garage was built for the parsonage in 1948. In 1951 the church kitchen was remodeled and rest rooms were con­structed. The church basement was remodeled in 1957. In 1961 the front of the church was renovated. The Church Bell tolled its last from its lofty tower on Sunday morning and evening, August 27, 1961. The parsonage was remodeled in 1967 and 1968, adding a study and master bedroom downstairs. Dedication and open house was held on May 12, 1968, with Superintendent T. W. Danielson present. The crushed rock was placed in front of the church in 1970.

The 50th Anniversary was celebrated October 2 through October 5, 1941, with all organizations taking part in the program. Reverend Rudolph C. Hvass, Reverend O. W. Bengtson and Reverend Gottfred Anderson took part in the program as well.

The 60th Anniversary was celebrated October 11 through October 14, 1951. Reverend Edwin Mattson, Reverend Maynard Londberg, Reverend Gottfred Anderson and Reverend August Johnson served as guest speakers.

The 70th Anniversary was observed September 28 through October 1, 1961 with Reverend LaVerne Erickson and Superintendent T. W. Danielson as guest speakers.

In October 1971, our church celebrated its 80th anniver­sary. It gladdened our hearts to welcome into out midst 5 of our former pastors who shared in the festivities with us. Those attending were Pastors Carroll Lind, Harold Nelson, Paul Nelson, Everett Wilson, and D. Elroy Anderson. Super­intendent Warren Swanson was also in attendance.

It has been a tradition throughout the years to have spe­cial services each Fall with a visiting pastor to share from God's Word. Likewise, we have continued to observe the Lenten Season with services culminating with Holy Com­munion one evening during Holy Week. We have met for fellowship and prayer during Prayer Week, often meeting in the homes. Christmas is also celebrated with special ser­vices and programs.

During the past years a number of our young men have served our nation in the armed services. They are Kenneth Johnson, Donald Johnson, Harvey Johnson, Millard Mar­tinson, Leonard Martinson, Marlin Johnson, Milton Nelson, Willard Landholm, Oscar Anderson, Vernon Dahlberg, Oliver Nelson, Clifford Nelson, Albert Dahlberg, Raymond Johnson, Duane Mahlendorf, Bruce Anderson and Robert Johnson.

As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of ministry entrusted to the Rosedale Evangelical Covenant Church, we fervently pray that God will continue to work in, with, and through this community of faith. With great anticipa­tion, we await God's life-transforming work in our com­munity and world. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Fort Randall Church

Completed in 1882, this 80' x 40' nondenominational church was not a part of the Fort Randall Military Post. It was built with volunteer funds and labor and local materials. Shown in the picture from left to right are the east and the north walls of the church portion; the bell tower which con­tained the bell and the winding staircase to it and the north end of the midsection. This midsection extends as far south as it extends north. The midsection served as the IOOF (In­ternational Order of Odd Fellows) Hall. Hidden from view is the small section that extends to the west and housed the library. The combined portions of the building form the shape of the Christian cross -- the church and the library as the pillar and the IOOF portion as the crossbar.

This picture was taken in 1915. Standing in the doorway from left to right are Reinold Woidneck and Carl Schmidt, both from Spencer, NE. Their motorcycles are in the foreground. The roof damage was by lightning and by cyclone (what we call tornado today) A replica of the church and Military Post was built by Don Carlson and is displayed at the observation building at Fort Randall Dam. Picture is from Alice Cassidy Nemec and the information is from the files of Don and Jerri Carlson.

 

Written by Lucille Lauts Motacek

Randall Valley

Covenant Church

The Randall Valley Covenant Church was organized in 1899. The first meetings were held in the homes of the pioneers. The building was erected in 1905 in the SW1/4 of section 23-95- 66, Randall Township, Gregory County, South Dakota, on the Adrian Nyquist homestead. The Church Cemetery is located in the northeast corner of the S1/2 of SW1/4, Nyquist 80, and in the northwest corner of the S1/2 of SE1 /4 of the Swanson 80, section 23. The Ran­dall Schoolhouse, District No. 26, sits to the west of the church on the same site. A good road, or highway bypas­ses the church and schoolhouse.

Early settlers were attracted to this section of the country,

 

Randall Valley Covenant Church

Randall Valley, Gregory County, by promises of free land. Taking up homesteads here, they were -eager and deter­mined to their utmost to have homes of their own. It was between the years 1897 and 1899 that many of our early pioneers moved here from Nebraska, Minnesota and other states. Records show that Karl Nyquist was the first to ar­rive, followed by his son, Adrian C. Nyquist, from Wausa, Nebraska in the year 1897. During the next two years the families of August Dahlberg, Albert Olson, Peter Hanson, Andrew Hanson, Martin Hanson, Albert Dahlberg, John Carlson, Magnus Johnson and Emil Anderson arrived.

This little group of pioneers were the backbone of this part of the country and truly had the pioneering spirit. They worked hard, surmounting all manner of difficulties, to build modest little homes, sod houses, and suffered hardships of various kinds, but their courage never failed. They had e sincere desire to meet for spiritual edification, first meetinc in various sod homes. Nyquist and Dahlberg were lookec upon .as leaders. May 30, 1899 the work was organizec under the names of "Svenska Kristna Missions Foreningen' and officers elected were Adrian C. Nyquist, M. S. Martini son, Martin Hanson and August Dahlberg. Some of the la■ pastors who served in the early days were Henry Bloom 0. H. Miller, Jonason, C. N. Nyquist, Chas. Johnson anc August Samuelson.

In 1904 Adrian C. Nyquist made a gift to the church of thi land upon which it now stands, and also a part of thi cemetery land. The church was built in 1905 and has sine stood as a little beacon light for God. Officers elected ti serve the church then under the name of Svenska Kristn, Missions Forsamlingen, Randall Creek" were Karl Mostrorr Martin Martinson and Adrian Nyquist.

Various pastors who have served since the time of Red P. A. Swenson were Rev. Emil R. Engstrom, 1907-190^.

 

Rev. O. W. Bengtson, 1909-1914 (jointly with Rosedale) 1914-1920; then 1934-1947 as long as physically able; Rev. S. R. Wallquist, 1920-1921; and Rev. Paul LeRoy Olson, 1922. I n 1905-1906 Rev. 0. W. Bengtson served as a travel­ing or itinerant preacher in the midwest area, visiting at Ran­dall Valley also. He was jointly serving the Randall Valley and Rosedale Covenant Churches from 1909-1914, travel­ing a distance of about 12 miles between the churches using a single-seat buggy drawn by his two horses, Mabel and Pet. From a review of his diary it seems his activities were not much curtailed (no gas shortage) as he traveled that distance often, conducting services, confirmation clas­ses, choirs, stringbands; in addition to being called for funerals, weddings and other functions. It seemed it was a very busy schedule, but it was quite evident that all engage­ments were met cheerfully, except when a snowstorm would cause a cancellation here or there.

He had a great love for music and throughout his minis­try, music played a leading part. During his early traveling ministry, small choirs would be organized, the four parts being taught by playing each on the guitar, the only means of accompaniment in those days. String bands were or­ganized in churches and musical talent used in every way possible for the glory of God.

The salary in those days was small for all pastors; he took time to supplement it with some work on a little farm in Ran­dall Valley.

His children remember how eagerly they looked forward to dad coming home from the infrequent trips to town for groceries, looking for that previous sack of candy the grocer in those days never failed to place in the grocery box. Very rarely did the children get an opportunity to go to town.

From this small church have come three who went into full time service for God: Theodore and Victor Nyquist (lat­ter now deceased), serving covenant churches in various locations; and Anna Hanson, serving as a missionary to the Indians in Montana. Many consecrated Christian laymen and women from this little church have taken their respec­tive places in Christian service in many churches in Nebras­ka and other states.

The church had an active ladies aid organization at one time, as well as a youth society. Approximately 75 people have been confirmed. There was an active Sunday School with early Superintendents August Dahlberg, Emil Ander­son, Magnus Johnson, Adrian Nyquist, Louis Martinson and Clarence Olson. Those who have served as chairmen include Adrian C. Nyquist, Karl Mostrom, Emil Anderson and Clarence Olson. The first organist was Mrs. Andrew Hanson.

Since many people have moved away, the church now has services intermittently as speakers come and musical programs are arranged for, so the doors are not closed, but it continues to be a beacon of light for God.

Randall Valley Covenant Church Cemetery

The Randall Valley Covenant Church Cemetery is located in Randall, Township 95, Range 66, and is nineteen miles east of Fairfax, South Dakota in the county of Gregory. At a meeting of the congregation of the Randall Valley Covenant Church March 1906, a cemetery plan was ac­cepted to-wit: 21 rods long and four rods wide, land for same having been given equally by Adrian Nyquist and August P. Swanson--a short distance east of the church and at the east end of the Adrian Nyquist land. (Mrs. Ny­quist also donated land east of the schoolhouse on the north side of the road for the church--132 feet long and 115 feet wide.)

The first burial in this hallowed piece of ground was that of Elna Person in 1904 and she was 66 years old; in 1906 Hans Person-65 years old. In 1908 August Ephriam Dahlberg was buried at 63 years of age, and in 1908, five­month-old Olga Evangeline Anderson was laid tenderly to rest. The eldest on record therein interred were Carl Mostrom in 1940 and 0. W. Bengtson, 1950, they had lived 88 years. There were six stillborn infants: child of Elmer C. Hafsaas 1916; child of Edward C. Hafsaas 1926; two children of John Martinson; Mariam, child of Swan Nelson; and child of A. B. Rostad, 1929. George Hanson was six­teen years old when he died in 1926 and twelve-year-old William Nyquist had expired in 1910. The World War I flu claimed Harry Nyquist at 22 years of age and Ingrid K. Ny­quist when she was 73.

Following are a list of the burials in Randall Valley Cemetery: Olga Anderson 1909; Lee Ray Anderson 1946; Hildor Charlotte Anderson 1947; Emil Anderson 1973; Rus­sell E. Anderson 1963; Mrs. Gerda (0. W.) Bengtson 1952; O. W. Bengtson 1950; August Ephraim Dahlberg 1908; Mrs. August Dahlberg 1926; Eddie Dahlberg 1933; Mrs. Joe Mat­tson; Albert Dahlberg 1953; Sadie Cecelia Dahlberg 1961; Elma Dahlberg 1961; Hafsaas, child of Elmer Carl 1916; Hafsaas, child of Edward Carl 1926; George Hanson 1926; Elna Haraldson 1929; Peter Haraldson 1931; Hans Martin­son ° 1966; Esther Martinson 1921; Mrs. Hans Martinson 1922; Alfred Martinson 1928; child of John Martinson; child of John Martinson; Lewis Martinson 1920; Emma C. Mostrom 1920; Carl Mostrom 1940; Harry E. Mostrom 1959; Evodia Mostrom 1978; Mariam, child of Swan Nel­son; Carl Adrian Nyquist 1926; William Nyquist 1910; Harry Nyquist 1918; Ingrid K. Nyquist 1918; Mariam Nyquist 1944; Anna Nyquist 1952; Arthur H. Olson 1913; Hilma C. Olson 1926; Albert Olson 1948; Magnus Peterson 1922; Hans Per­son 1906; Elna Person 1904; Mrs. Nels Person 1953; Nels Person 1948; Hannah Rostad 1930; Kaja J. Rostad 1911; child of A. B. Rostad 1929; Paul Rostad 1951; and Annie Searstad 1916. Melvin Anderson is currently in charge of the cemetery records.

Later deaths: Fingal Olson 1980; Erick Olson 1987; Clarin­da Pearson 1987; Florence Nyquist 1989; Fridolph Pearson 1991.

St. Francis Mission

The St. Francis Mission Church, organized and built in 1917, was located in Randall Valley, Randall Township, Gregory County, South Dakota on ground that was once the military reserve. Thomas Donlin, a widower, for $1.00 granted, conveyed, and warranted to Right Reverend John L. Lawler, Bishop of Lead, South Dakota "a parcel of land described as follow, to-wit: commencing at the northeast corner of the SE quarter of SW1/4 of Section 17, in Township 95, North Range 65, west of the 5th Principal Meridian, thence running south ^`208.7 feet; thence west 202.7 feet; thence north 208.7 feet; thence east 208.7 feet to the place of beginning containing one acre more or less. Signed July 7, 1917 by Thomas Donlin. Mr. Donlin hauled lumber from Fairfax, South Dakota for the construction of the church on the site. Earnest Olson of Gross, Nebraska was hired to construct the new frame church with the help of parish members. Thus the little white country chapel, St. Francis Mission came into being.

Prior to the building of the St. Francis Mission, the mem­bers of the parish who included the families of Morans, Kir­wans, Donlins, Cassidys, Masters, and Coens attended mass at the old Fort Randall Chapel after the fort had been abandoned in 1892. The congregation shared the commit­ment of bringing the Catholic priest from Fairfax to the Fort

Randall Chapel. Usually he was escorted by his host the day before (by horse and wagon) to their home where he spent the night in their guest room. Sunday morning he was driven to the Fort chapel. After church the members of the church and the priest were entertained with a lavish dinner at the host's family home. The parish held services once a month in this manner.

Prior to the opening of the new frontier in 1890, Catholics attended the Fort Randall Chapel. The fort had its own army chaplain but it is thought that Father DeSmet visited and held mass for the Catholic parish at Fort Randall. In 1970 on his last trip up river he baptized Dennis Moran's brother John. Father DeSmet died in 1873.

The Right Reverend Martin Marty was a frontier bishop in 1873. He built his own little Catholic Churches with the help of his own attendant and the parish members, Indian or non- Indian. In 1890 he became the first bishop of Sioux Falls and had all of South Dakota as one diocese in 1902. It is very likely that he had mass, baptized, and married his people at the Fort Randall Chapel and included the Randall Valley Catholics. He died in 1896.

GROSS CEMETERY

Gross, Nebraska

Located on the hill just 1 /4 mile north of the town of Gross.

Gross Cemetery entrance as it is now in 1993.

 

 

Each row reads from North to South.

Row 1:

Rish, Beulah E., daughter of M. B. & N. M. Rish, born 3 March 1899, died 28 March 1899.

Brewer, Nick 1888-1902.

Little, Sarah E. Wife of A. T. Little. Born 18 May 1848, died 1 Feb. 1902.

Laprath, Thomas Jens (father) 1863-1935.

Laprath,- Noah J., son of Thomas J & Kate. Died 16 April 1910 aged 4 yrs., 6 days.

Laprath, Hans. Died 23 May 1910, 85 yrs., 10 months, 29 days.

Laprath, Anna Margetha Catherien (Hempkamp), Wife of Hans Sr. Born 1 Jan. 1827, Died 13 Jan. 1902.

 

Sinclair, Ruby L., daughter of John & Statira. Born 2 Feb. 1886, died 4 Jan. 1902.

Sinclair, Floyd, son of John & Statira. Born 30 April 1900, Died 4 March 1901.

Sinclair, John C. (father). Born 14 June 1843, Died 5 Nov. 1920.

Sinclair, Statira (mother). Born 12 May 1847, Died 19 Jan. 1929.

Row 2

Maize, Earl 1892-1928.

Fisher, Jaroslow, Born 26 July 1901, Died 14 July 1902. Fisher, Vlaska, Born 8 March 1892, Died 16 Nov. 1921. Bran, Frank, Died 11 July 1905 at age 28 yrs., 2 months, 1 day.

Couch, John J. 1909-1912.

Couch, Anna Louisa, daughter of F. E. & S. L. Couch. Born 18 June 1901, Died 14 May 1902.

Couch Estella L. 1875-1942.

Couch, Franklin E. 1865-1939.

Couch, Jennie, Wife of Edward M. Born 10 March 1876, Died 26 Feb. 1906.

Couch, Beatrice & Winona.

Laprath, Hans 1860-1919.

Patterson, John W. 1876-1943.

Row 3

Jones, Edward L. Born 8 June 1888, Died 11 Nov. 1910. Jones, Jas F. Born 10 Oct. 1848, Died 15 March 1908. Quinn, Infant Son of W. E. & A. L. Born 28 July 1902, Died

29 July 1902.

Blair, Nancy 1838-1920.

Blair, J. J. Born 8 March 1834, Died 5 Feb. 1905. Kimball, J. R. 1867-1939.

Kimball, Alice, Wife of J. R. Born 10 July 1871, Died 25 June 1903.

Kimball, Alice L., Infant Daughter of J. R. & A. L. Born 25 June 1903, Died aged 2 months, 1 day.

Sinclair, Claude R. Son of A. L. & L. Sinclair. Died 2 Feb. 1907. Aged 8 months.

Anderson, Marie 0. 18 April 1903.

Anderson, Charles J. 1859-1924.

Row4

Blair, Lelah. 1882-1951.

Knuth, William 1853-1932.

Tiedje, William 1872-1929.

Blair, George 1856-1926.

Blair, Mary 1854-1925.

Yenglin, Caroline S. 1857-1939.

Yenglin, Charles E. 1856-1940.

Yenglin, George W. Born 31 March 1853, Died 14 Jan. 1932.

Yenglin, J. A. Born 26 Feb. 1822, Died 4 June 1903. Patterson, Anna, Wife of G. H. Died 13 July 1905. Aged 29 yrs., 4 months, 14 days and Baby Anna.

Hume, Merle W. 1912-1941.

Gross, Elsie Louella, Wife of William R. 1898-1921. Hume, Infant Son of Mr. & Mrs. Alex Hume.

Ballard, Baby. Born 2 Feb. 1905, Died 24 March 1905.

 

Ballard, Willie E. (father) 1856-1929.

Cart, Louisa, Wife of Jacob. Died 24 March 1907, Aged 55 yrs., 1 month, 15 days.

Cart, Jacob. Co. G - 3rd la. Inf. (Military Stone) 1843-1932 Couch, Brother Charles C. 1907-1965.

Couch, Sister Ida Mae. 1903-1972.

Blair, Blanche L. 1923-1929.

Blair, Marvin F. 1921-1929.

Blair, Ethel 1891-1968.

Blair, Wallace F. 1885-1959.

Row 5

Fuhr, Roma Jean 1930-1931.

Fuhr, Vera I. 1893-1980.

Fuhr, Fred N. 1886-1971

Gray, J. W. 1862-1914.

Winchell, N. L. Born 27 Dec. 1832, Died 15 May 1907 (Union Soldier)

Winchell, Nancy (Wife) 1848-1915.

Butka, Gale E. Son of F. & Henriette. Died 26 June 1907, Aged 7 yrs., 5 months, 5 days.

Couch, Edward J. Born 14 Oct. 1832, Died 1 April 1911. Couch, George. Born 17, Sept. 1863, Died 25 Jan. 1910. Couch, Willis Bert 1869-1931 (all one stone).

Coen, Rev. Howard. Born 6 March 1855, Died 1 July 1929. Nahrstedt, Mary 1860-1938.

Nahrstedt, Howard 1866-1939.

Row 6

Brimmer, William 1842-1911.

McKinse, William 1856-1921.

Cornmins, J. A. Born 5 Sept. 1829, Died &Jan. 1915. Cornmins, Ellen (Wife of J. A.). Born 21 May 1830, Died 29 Dec. 1913.

Unmarked.

Cranford, Lola A. 1893-1922.

Cranford, Dorthy M. 1910-1922.

Cranford, Sybil 1913-1922 (all one stone)

Cranford, Thaddeus A. 1887-1924.

Cranford, Roy Richard 1927-1927.

Undertaker Marker (No writing)

Row 7

Blair, Hannah 1864-1934.

Blair, Alex H. 1859-1943.

Wilson, W. H. Born 27 May 1841. Died 29 May 1919. Woodward, Rebecca M. Born 18 Jan. 1845, Died 27 Nov. 1915.

Woodward, Samuel 1846-1929.

McCright, Mayne 1889-1923.

McCright, Bert 1885-1970.

Willey, Elmer P. (father) 1859-1925.

Willey, Harry T. 1896-1931. 21st Airship, Group Hdqs. W. W.I

Undertaker Marker (No writing).

Row 8

Mother Marker

Unmarked

Hume, Wilbur W. Born 16 June 1900, Died 15 March 1968 (mausoleum).

 

Gross, Christina M. 1874-1937.

Gross, William A. 1867-1943.

McCright, Susan A. 1847-1929.

McCright, George W. 1846-1936 (Vet. G.A.R. 1861-1865). McCright, Thomas A. Born 6 June 1868, Died 18 April 1939.

Fredrichsen, Katherine 1859-1943.

Fredrichsen, Henry W. 1858-1940.

Bjornsen, Nata V. 1889-1961.

Bjornsen, Albert E. 1876-1939.

Bjornsen, Demming D. 1933-1951.

Undertaker Marker (No writing).

Row 9

Large Stone - Fredrichsen.

Row 10

Marker (No writing).

Marker (No writing).

Headley, Nancy Jayne (Mother). Born 4 June 1845, Died 17 May 1926.

Headley, Michale (Father). Born 10 May 1843, Died 13 May 1928. Co. A 122, 0, Vol Inf.

McQuistan, William 1869-1953.

McQuistan, Myrtle 1884-1963.

Bayne (Headley), Vernice M. 1870-1961 (mausoleum). Bayne, Joseph M. 1860-1946 (mausoleum).

Hume, Alexander 1874-1952.

Hume, Lorena 1877-1954.

Rhodman, Kermit 1902-1978.

Rhodman, Zora M. 1905-1954

Kraft, Gary Lee 6 Aug. 1960.

Sinclair, Hannah, 1891 -1987

Sinclair, Charles 1887-1958.

Tork, Mary Ann 1989-1971.

Tork, Vernon G. Nebraska - W.W. I, Pvt. Co. A - 102 M. G. Bn. Born 14 Aug. 1892, Died 29 June 1966 (Military Stone). Nahrstedt, Elmer E. 1894-1976.

Nahrstedt, Frank. Born 28 December 1900, Died 25 April 1990.

Nahrstedt, Herbert William (Infant) B/D 7 January 1903. Narhstedt, Florence. Born 29 July 1897, Died 3 August 1990.

Row 11

Kelly, Anna G. 1884-1964.

Kelly, John L. 1883-1968.

Kelley, Baby Dawn 1964.

Delfs, Harry H. Born 13 June 1908, Died 10 July 1982. Mar­ried to Olive E. 15 Nov. 1930.

Delfs, Olive E. Born 29 June 1910, Died 16 Nov. 1990 (Large wooden marker at feet.)

Howell, Joy. Born 25 August 1909, Died 25 February 1987. Howell, Maurine E. (Sandy). Born 14 June 1917.

I'm sure there are several unmarked graves as there were several broken stones next to the entrances of the cemetery

THE BUSY BEAVERS

4-H CLUB

The Busy Beavers 4-H Club was organized November 6, 1959, in the Joy Howell home. The county agent, Ron Gus­tafson, assisted the group with the selection of projects, ex­plained the opportunities in 4-H, and other business in getting a club off to a good start. Officers elected: Presi­dent -- Curtis Anderson; Vice-President -- Craig Anderson; Sec-Treas. -- Linda Howell; News Reporter -- Shirley Holmberg. Charter members were: Curtis and Craig Ander­son; Gordon, Linda and Lenora Brown; Clayton, Kathleen and Shirley Holmberg; and Edward and Linda Howell.

The second meeting in the Gross Hall was on January 15, 1960. Membership increased to 28 when the following be­came members: Becky and Judy Axberg, Carol and Larry Fish, Coleen and Kenny Fish, Garland Gehlsen, Mary Jo and Verlin Gehlsen, Bob, Esther and Kay Johnson, Diane, Janet and Ronnie Johnson, Eugene and Marilyn Kolund, and Doris Wenke. The CHARTER was issued and signed by all members on June 22, 1960.

Through the years, many members have earned purple ribbons which qualified them to exhibit, judge or demonstrate at district and state levels, also AK-SAR-BEN. Several times the Club hosted the county-wide observation of "Rural Life Sunday" in Gross or at the historic Nine Mile Hill. Three years the Club represented Boyd County at the State 4-H Music Contest. Also several of the girls have won blue ribbons in the State Dress Revue.

Today many Busy Beavers are pursuing careers from a background in 4-H. Among them is Betsy Nelson Heyden_

 

1961 4-H Club - Esther Johnson, Bob Johnson, Kenny Fish, lary Fish, Marcalene Holmberg, Marvin Wenke, Verlin Gehlsen..

 

1992 4-H Halloween Party - Carolyn Holmberg, Debbie Kayl, Arlene Har­gens. Partents joined in fun at 4-H Halloween Party.

 

1992 4-H Halloween Party - Victor Johnson, Michael Wendt, Justin Kocian, Jesse Kayl.

 

who is currently the Home Extension Agent in Gregory County, SD. In 1965, Linda Howell received the State Home Improvement award and a trip to the 4-H Club Congress in Chicago to accept the National Award and a $500 scholar­ship. In 1969 she won a trip to the National 4-H Head^­quarters in Washington DC. Lexie Kopecky also went on the National Tour in 1986 to Washington DC and surround­ing area. Mandy Wendt took the Heritage Tour in 1989, with a bus load or other Nebraska 4-Hers to visit museums and famous landmarks and locations in western Nebraska as part of the Know Your Heritage Project. Mandy and her mother, Mrs. Wayne (Diana) Wendt, are members of the state-wide Power Force committee for the Busy Beavers. Leaders through the years include: Mrs. Joy (Maurine; Howell; Mrs. Vernon (Peggy) Dahlberg; Joe Classen; Mrs Bernard (Carolyn) Holmberg; Mrs. Steve (Ann) Mahlendorf Mrs. Mike (Mary) Finnegan and Mrs. Wayne (Diana) Wendt The membership remains high with 25 for 1993. Officers arE President -- Mandy Wendt; Vice-President -- Andrea Ham mon; Secretary -- Shannon Ludwig; Treasurer -- Corey Fin^, negan; News Reporter -- Lisa Finnegan. Membershir includes Nick and Jessica Boettcher, Holly Eilers, Core) and Lisa Finnegan, Andrea Hammon, Jesse Havranek Miriam and Monika Holmberg, Belle Ann Howell, SheilE Johnson, Victor Johnson, Jesse Kayl, Justin Kocian, Brit tney Kopecky, Shannon Ludwig, Sara, Stephanie and Luk( Mahlendorf, Lisa Mimick, Matt, Michelle and Valerie Nolan Mandy and Michael Wendt.

Our current 4-H club is very active. This past year the) have adopted two miles of US Highway 281 milepost 21E to 220. This is one mile each side of the "Gross road". ThE trash has to be picked up and our section of the road kep clean. In return, the state provides a sign along with thi; section of road giving credit to our Busy Beaver 4-H Club We also spent the summer raising money by selling luncf at some of the local farm sales. We then used part of thi; moneyto saythank-you to our parents and families by host ing a family picnic in the Gross city park. Lots of fun wa: had by all playing volleyball and visiting.

Our little 4-H club is proud of our members, past anc present, and try to make our community a better place tolive.