The trade center for that part of Hall County lying south of the Platte River is Doniphan. This thriving little town is situated on the fertile prairie about twelve miles south of Grand Island, and about the same distance south of Hastings, and on the lines of the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad. Lying between the two cities it nevertheless enjoys a splendid business and is a town of splendid homes. The early history of the town radiates around its first and oldest settler, W. J. Burger. Mr. Burger ia a native of Cedar County, Missouri, and was raised at Glenwood, Iowa. He was in Colorado for abut three years, and in 1864 brought his young bride, also from Glenwood, Iowa, to Hall County and settled in what is now the Doniphan vicinity. Mr. Burger carried on farming until 1881 when he started a store. Mr. Burger was postmaster at his home, during the 'senventies, and their little station was called Orchard.

TOWN OF DONIPHAN STARTED

After the St. Joseph and Grand Island rairoad was in operation it was enevitable that a town should grow up between Grand Island and Hastings. So in 1879 Mr. Burger, who owned the land where the town of Doniphan was built, platted a town site, laid out the first lots, sold a number of lots and started the town, which was named Doniphan, in honor of Colonel Doniphan, who was attorney for the St. Joseph & Grand Island railway.

Samuel Biedelman lived a half-mile west of the town and later moved down after the town was started. H. C. Denman had a farm that joined the new townsite, and while he did not live in the town he became a leading citizen of the new community. Charles Dufford, a farmer in that vicinity, moved down a short time after the new town got started. S. H. Lakins moved in after the town had been going for something like three years. Upson Brothers come right in, during the first few months, and started a store in August, 1879. W. H. Gideon lived at the edge of the town and helped lay out the new town. Samuel Gibson came in rather early and worked for Mr. Burger in the blacksmith job. Dr. Caswell T. Poe came the year after the establishment of the town. He had located in South Platte precinct and farmed there for five yers, and also practiced medicine. He had then gone to Grand Island, but after the new town started he relocated in the southern part of the county and began practicing from the new village. These who have just been named were among the first settlers of the new town, whose early arrival contributed materially to establishing the town that was to be in that part of the county, Doniphan.

As remarked before, the first store was that of Upson Brothers, started in August, 1879. W. J. Burger operated a livery stable which he sold in 1880 to Scudder Brothers. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Burger built a new building for a store and a hall was put in upstairs, which was known thereafter as the Burger & McCulloch Hall. The growth of the town commercially is detailed in a section of a separate chapter treating of that special phase of the life of each community.

EARLY EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

The first girl born on the new townsite was Jennie M. Stout, on February 9, 1880, but she lived only a short time. The first boy born in the new town was Mr. Burger's son, Albert Doniphan Burger, in 1879. The first marriage in the town took place October 30, 1881, and the contracting parties were L. M. Brewer and Miss Anna M. Wharry, performed at the hotel.

The religious side of life was early cared for by the residents of the new community and occasional sermans were enjoyed from the very beginning. The first sermaon of which present record is given was that preached by a Rev. Mr. Rockaway, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church at Burger & McCulloch's Hall, on Monday evening, July 18, 1881. On the following Sunday sermons were preached by Rev. E. A. McCullom, of the Presbyterian church, a Rev. Mr. Sweeney of the Christian, and a Rev. Mr. Thurber of the Methodist Episcopal. Chrch societies were at once organized by the Methodist, Presbyterian and Christian people, though it was quite a number of years before any of the denominations completed the erection of a building for its special needs.

The first school in the town was taught in the fall of 1879 by Miss Emma Smith. There had been a school house built in 1874 at the corner cross-roads near town. That building was later converted into a residence. The flouring mill which Mr. Burger started in 1881 was practically the beginning of the industrial development of the young community. The town was just seven years old when a bank was started, the Bank of Doniphan, with W. J. Burger president, John Schwyn cashier, and S. N. Wolbach, C. F. Bentley, Messrs. Burger and Schwyn stockholders. The community had a newspaper as early as April, 1881, when Charles Kelsey came in and started The Index. The Doniphan Leader was established in 1884.

DONIPHAN'S BIG FIRE

The town had secured a good start by the year 1887. On November 26, 1887, a fire broke out that swept one side of the main street, destroyed the town records then compiled, and became a most notable event in the history of the community. Though like those fires in the early history of a town that leave a severe loss and dreadful inconvenience for the time being, new and better buildings spring up to replace the older ones and the general appearance of the town is eventually improved. This fire destroyed the only brick building the town then had, the one occupied by the postoffice, William Gideon then postmaster, the bank, Carmichael's grocery, a millinery store, a general store, and a butcher shop. The fire resulted from the attempt of burglars to blow open the door of the bank safe.

THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN

The little village had assumed enough of the pretensions of a town by the time it was five years old so that on January 9, 1884, on the petition of thirty-three resident tax-payers the south half of section 5 and all of section 8, town 9, range 9, and southeast quarter of section 1 and east half of section 12, town 9, range 10 was imcorporated as the village of Doniphan. A. M. Sweeney, James Scudder, J. W. Burg(er), D. O. Grice and Samuel Beidelman were appointed to constitute the first board of trustees.

SUCCEEDING TOWN TRUSTEES

Due to the destruction of the village records in the fire of November, 1887, the records of membership of the board of trustees during the two years that intervened between the expiration of the tem of the first board and the board that took pffice in the spring of 1887 is missing. A new village record was started on February 6, 1888, and this shows that at that time the town trustees were: J. W. Carmichael, John Schwyn, T. M. Scheaff, Jas. H. Scudder, vice J. N. Joice, who resigned that month W. E. Moore. W. J. Burger was town clerk but he was succeeded in February by Markwood Holmes when he became a member of the board to succeed Mr. Carmichael who resigned then.

The succeeding boards were:

1888

W. E. Moore, John Schwyn, T. M. Scheaff, J. C. Frances, Hess. (Stout part of year).

1889

Moore, Schwyn, Scheaff, H. E. Funk, Fr. J. M. Fitch.

1890

W. E. Moore, J. C. Francis, J. H. Scudder, L. M. Brewer, W. H. McCulloch

1891

Orville Ellsworth, W. A. Camp, D.C. Gideon, Richard McMullin and S. S. Shultz.

1892

W. H. McCulloch, J. E. Nelson, Dr. J. M. Fitch, Frank Scudder, and W. E. Moore, the last three resigning during the year and John Walker and W. J. Burger coming on in place of latter two trustees.

1893

D. C. Gideon, W. H. McCulloch, Jno. W. Walker, John Schwyn and H.T. Ingalls, who resigned in January 1894 and Dr. Fitch returned to the board.

1894

H. D. Williams, J. H. Scudder, Wilbur W. Welch, John Schwyn and D. C. Gideon, who was succeeded by L. M. Brewer during the year.

1895

A. Blunk, P. Johnson, J. E. Hitt, L. M. Brewer and Aug. Richter. The last two named being succeeded by Ben Orcutt and C. F. Raymer.

1896

J. C. Francis, J. E. Hitt, Ben Orcutt, G. C. Mayer and H. T. Ingalls, the latter succeeded in July by C. L. Gideon.

1897

J. C. Francis, R. A. Blackburn, L. M. Brewer, W. H. Welch and B. F. Scudder.

1898

Richard McMullin, Jas. Newman, I. T. Ward, J. F. Button.

1899

Richard McMulin, C. F. Raymer, Valentine Clarno, M. E. Bowlin and Amos Beagle.

1900

J. F. Button, C. F. Raymer, Valentine Clarno, M. E. Bowlin and Amos Beagle.

1901

a period began during which the members were elected for a two year term. The members of the board of 1901 were J. E. Hitt, W. H. Marsh, W. H. Giedeon, J. F. Button and Amos Beagle.

1902

Hitt, Marsh and Gideon held over and A. B. Smith and John Carmichael came on the Board.

1903

Hitt, Marsh and Gideon were re-elected and Smith and Carmichael held over.

1904

Smith and Carmichael re-elected and Hitt, Harsh and Gideon held over.

1905

Smith and Carmichael held over, but three new associates were elected, Sidney White, A. C. Adams, and Elmer Orr.

1906

White, Adams and Orr held over iwth J. B. Meseraull and Charles Lakins as the new members, but the latter was succeeded October 1st by G. S. Webb.

1907

J. B. Meseraull held over, Dr. C. A. Stone elected for the one year term, and H. E. Funk, H. T. Ingalls and R. L. McMullin came on for a full term.

1908

With Funk, Ingalls and McMullin holding over, D. B.Skiles and A. D. Burger came on the Board.

1909

Skiles and Burger holding over; H. T. Ingalls re-elected and I. T. Ward and Geo. W. Webb as new members. Chas. Humphrey succeeded Ingalls in December.

1910

Skiles and Burger were re-elected; Ward, Humphrey and Webb continued.

1911

Ward and Humphrey held over; Burger re-elected, J. B. Meseraull nd F. E. Sullivan came onto the Board, but H. S. Crawford took Meserall's place.

1912

Four new men came onto the Board, now operating under annual memberships: W. A. Moses, E.C. Burger, L. G. Scudder, Elmer Orr, with A. D. Burger still a member.

1913

Moses, E. C. Burger, Scudder and A. D. Burger continued in office, and D. B. Skiles returned to the Board.

1914

L. G. Scudder and D. B. Skiles remained, F. E. Sullivan returned and I. J. Doan and C. H. Kindig were new men on the board.

1915

Kindig and Sullivan remained, with W.R. Augustin, H. S. Crawford and S. B. Marsh as new members.

1916

Marsh, Crawford and Augustin held over, L. G. Scudder and F. M. Hitch elected to serve.

1917

Augustin, Scudder and Hitch remained, with Chas. T. Young and Charles Redman as the new members.

1918

Young, Redman and Augustin remained, Scuder and Hitch were re-elected.

1919

The present town board consists of Chas. T. Young, L. G. Scudder, F. M. Hitch, R. D. Wood and R. M. Britt.

VILLAGE CLERKS

An important office in the history and development of the affairs of a town is that of village or town clerk. In 1888 W. J. Burger was serving as town clerk. His successor for about three years was Markwood Holmes. H. N. Lord served a few months, then O. B. Hawk, Dr. J. D. Jackson, W. H. Gideon, H. T. Ingalls, B. F. Scudder, J. Schwyn, J. E. Hitt, and in 1895 the clerkship settled down in the hands of John Schwyn, who served in that capacity until August, 1899.

I. T. Ward served a few months. The next spring Schwyn again took over the books. In 1901 J. H. Scudder served and was succeeded in 1902 by S. W. Burch. After three years of that work, he was followed for two years by C. A. Dominy. In 1907 Harry Wilson was clerk; in 1908, R. McMullin, and after him D. B. Skills. I. T. Ward served in 1909, 1910, and 1911 and L. G. Scudder in 1912 and 1913. W. S. Pickens took over the office in 1914 and continued until February, 1918, when A. W. Bauman became clerk, whose successor was Percy Button. In October, 1918, the present clerk, H. E. Clarno, took charge of the books.

TOWN TREASURERS

This is an office that has not changed hands so often as the other village offices. Some of the town treasurers have been, John M. McCulloch, John Schwyn for about ten years during the decade of the 'nineties, A. D. Burger from 1901 until A. L. Scudder became custodian of city funds in 1904. He was succeeded by H. E. Funk in 1907 and A.D. Burger returned to that responsibility in 1911. L. G. Scudder served in 1917 and R. D. Wood is the last treasurer.

MARSHAL

Various custodians of the peace and welfare of the village have been A. Bomgardner, Shelt Howerton, Jas. Newman, C. N. Moore, W. E. Sweney, Orville Ellsworth, C. N. Munroe and others back in the 'nineties. Al Bamgarten [sic], J. E. Nelson, Monroe, A. B. Smith, C. C. Underwood served in the decade. R. Decker, M. J. Meseraull and Martin Brewer were later marshals. In the last few years Wes Pickens and Elmer Orr have combined that duty with many others they had.

The task of looking after the streets was entrusted in 1889 to I. L. Meseraull. Through the 'nineties among the various custodians of the streets were Aaron Duffield, John Ward, J. L. Meseraull, John Walker, B. Scudder, Geo. W. Orr, L. Howerton, C. B. Smith. From 1900 to 1910, Mart Demster, J. E. Nelson, A. B. Smith, Chas. Munroe, Jas. Gideon, Chas. Balmer, V. Clarno, Orville Ellsworth and R. Decker took on this task at various times. In 1914 Wes Pickens assumed the multiple burden of water, street and light commissioner, town marshal and clerk of the village board. His successor was Elmer Orr, who is still carrying most of those responsibilities.

Doniphan has kept in pace with other towns of her class in the matter of public improvements and securing modern conveniences of life for her people. She faced the problems of water tanks, hitching posts, a chemical engine all before 1910.

The Committee appointed in May, 1900, to arrange for a waterworks system for the town were C. J. Humphrey, B. F. Scudder, H. E. Funk, H. G. Rainz, S. Crawford, O. Ellsworth, A. Cleal, R. L. Msmullin {McMullin}, and D. B. Skiles. The water bonds were carried on September 17, 1912, and bonds for $16,000 for water purposes and $2,000 for a light plant authorized the electric light plant built for the town by the Doniphan Light and Power Co. was sold in 1916 to the Central Power Co. and hitched onto the Grand Island plant for electric service. A raise of one cent per kilowatt, authorized in April, 1917, and continued during the war, was taken off by the council recently.

COMMERCIAL CHANGES

Despite the close proximity of Hastings and Grand Island to the farmers living on the south side of the Platte in Hall County, Doniphan has maintained her position of supremacy as the trading point for this South Platte community. Her commercial importance is easily evidenced by an examination of the history of the business houses that have flourished in Doniphan.

The first store, established in August, 1879, by Upson Brothers has undergone a series of changes in management. It was later sold to Frances, who passed it on to Meseraull, from him to Moses, and a few years ago to Henry Olthoff.

Late in 1880 the Camp and Alexander store was sold to Burger & McCullough. This opened the career of W. J. Burger in the general mechandise line and the management of this store remained continuously in the hands of Mr. Burger, his partner and his family for thirty-nine years, when it was recently sold to D. A. Jones of Hastings. For about fifteen years the business was conducted under the firm name of Burger & McCullough. Mr. Burger then purchased the partner's interest in the store. About twenty-three years ago, after his son had finished his education he came into a share of the management of the business, and later the son, A. D. Burger, became a partner, and the business in recent years has been known as W. J. Burger & Son. In thirty-nine years of service of the wants of the public, this business has grown from a small country trading station to one of the largest and best equipped mercantile establishments in the county.

Samuel Fry established a store in 1880 that flourished for a long time as Fry & Beidelman, was later sold out, and finally the stock was disposed of and the establishment went out of business.

Another early store was that handled by a Mr. Joice, and at another period by Mr. Morrow, and of which A. L. Scudder was manager for McNal & Wisner. W. A. Camp sustained a fire about 1895 or 1896. Mr. Scudder then conducted this business in his own right for fourteen yers, and Hess & Son had it for a year. Then Garrett & Moss came in, and a Mr. Child of Oklahoma acquired the store, after which it was moved away.

A. L. Scudder conducted another store in Doniphan for a time, which he sold to O. H. Strawn and recently bought back.

Another store in Doniphan was conducted by L. M. Brown, who later sold the building occupied to O. H. Strawn.

John Burg opened a drug store in Doniphan at an early date. W. J. Burger at one time owned this stock. S. W. Birch conducted the store for some time, and later Dr. C. A. Stone had charge of it, but in recent years it has been conducted by T. T. McCleery, the present owner.

Mr. Burger established a blacksmith shop in early days, which was conducted by Si. Gibson. Gregg Bros. of St. Joseph had the first grain elevator. The second elevator belonged to Mr. Burger and to C. W. Thomas, later to Meseraull and a Hastings man, and eventually became the Hall County Grain Company, under management of R. L. McMullin. Ben Orcutt built another elevator which was sold to Scudder & Ingalls. Doniphan now has two farmers' elevators, one of which the farmers built new and the other being the successor of L. G. Scudder's elevator business. These are the Farmers Grain Co. and the Farmers Mill & Elevator Co.

Doniphan had a livery stable in 1879, owned by W. J. Burger, who sold it in 1880 to Scudder Brothers. The livery stable is now conducted by Cash Richmond.

R. L. McMullin started a garage for Doniphan early in the days of the automobile business. This is now conducted as the Doniphan Auto Co. and has the Ford agency. W. R. Augustin and Son have the Augustin Auto. Co. and have a splendidly equipped garage.

Doniphan has been well supplied with halls for places of public meetings. Burger & McCulloch's hall was built in 1880 and long remained the place where public gatherings could be held. The Odd Fellows have had a hall, and the Masonic Hall was installed over the old Bank of Doniphan building. Doniphan also has an opera house, of which J. C. Boroff is manager.

The first hotel in town was that conducted by Biedelman.

C. F. Raymer, as agent for Paine & Co. of Grand Island, conducted the first lumber yard, in 1880. During recent years the Aspegren-Stroud Lumber Co. of Lincoln has ben in charge of the lumber yard, which is now conducted as the Doniphan Lumber Co. H. E. Clarno is the present manager.

John Weaver and Ed Bond supplied meats for the local trade as early as 1880. Scudder & Fry had the market at the time of the big fire in 1887. They later re-established across the street. S. S. Shultz afterwards conducted the market, and in recent years O. L. Pearson. Charles Braman is the present proprietor.

The newspapers, treated in the chapter on "The Press" have been the Index, founded in 1881 by Charles Kesley, the Leader, founded in 1889, the Eagle, founded by I. M. Augustine, and after a gap during which the town had no newspaper for a few years, its present journal, the Enterprise.

Doniphan has had telephone facilities since 1904 when the Hamilton County Telephone Co. was given right to set up poles.

The town is not behind others in the matter of an up-to-date moving picture theatre, the Jewell.

The present interests in Doniphan are:

The Bank of Doniphan, Commercial Exchange Bank, Doniphan Sand & Gravel Co., Doniphan Brick Yards, Skiles Barber shop, Frank M. Hitch, blacksmith shop, C. L. Boyd, Fred Fent, Saml. B. Marsh and Orr Bros., carpenters and builders, Ellsworth, Taggard, and Shehin's restaurants, McCleery drug store, D. O. Jones, general store (successor to W. J. Burger & Son), A. L. Scudder, general store, Henry Olthoff, general store, Walter Augustine and S. H. Crawford, implements and farm machinery, Farmers Grain Co., Doniphan Grain Co., Farmers Mill & Elevator Co., Augustine and S. H. Crawford, implements, wood, hardware, Joseph Wortman, harness shop, Richmond livery stable, Doniphan Lumber Co., Braman meat market, the Enterprise, J. C. Bierbower editor, Dr. Geo. L. Wagner and Dr. C. A. Stone, physicians, Doniphan Produce Co., with H. S. Altensee, manager, the Jewell Theatre, and telephone offices.