The following is from the History of the State of Nebraska by A. T. Andreas.
 
Spring Ranche
 
      Spring Ranche was first settled on June 8, 1864, and was named Spring Ranche from the presence of numerous
      springs of water in that locality. The first settler was James Bainter, who was soon followed by Robert Cargill,
      Lewis Thayer and D. W. Evans.

      The first marriage in the town was that of E. J. Jackson to Mary N. Cargill, in the fall of 1874. The first death was
      Edward Harper, in 1864, and the first child born was Sheridan Bainter, May 11, 1871. The earliest officers in the
      town were L. N. Bryant, Justice of the Peace, and James Bainter, Constable.

      In the spring of 1872, Miss Annie Foster taught the first school in James Bainter's residence, and, during that
      summer, a schoolhouse was built.

      The earliest religious services were held in 1871, in Bainter's house, and were conducted by Elder J. W.
      Warwick. In the fall of 1881, the Presbyterians erected a church, which was directly followed by one belonging
      to the Congregationalists.

      A post office was established in 1870 and called Spring Ranche; the first Postmaster was Lewis Thayer.

      A grist and flouring mill called the Spring Ranche Mills was built in 1874 by the firm of Peck & Meston. A store,
      comprising a small stock of general merchandise, was started in 1871 by James Bainter, in his own dwelling, and
      which was the first store in the town.

      The early settlers in this part of the county suffered greatly from depredations by the Indians, having been chased
      out at two different times and had all their property burned up. The first instance of this sort took place on the 9th
      of August, 1864, the settlers having fled for their lives, but bravely returned after the savages had completed their
      desolations and disappeared, and began to repair the losses they had sustained and start anew. After the lapse of
      a short time, when they had succeeded in gathering a few buildings and some property about them, they were
      again invaded, in July, 1866, by the terrifying enemies, and forced to a second flight, while leaving behind houses
      and effects to feed the sportive bonfire of their assailants. At this time, all the settlers left and none returned until
      the spring of 1870, since which they have suffered no disturbance from the "noble warriors of the plain."

      A more detailed account of these Indian troubles is to be found in the history of Spring Ranche Precinct as part of
      the general history of the county.
 



 

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