W. L. SPRAGUE

came to Hall county in 1882. A native of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, born March 29, 1861, he began to teach school in Hall County when twenty-one years of age. In 1886 he was elected principal of the school at Doniphan, and in 1888 he was elected to the principalship of the Wood River schools. He served in that capacity until 1894 when he accepted the cashiership of the Citizens State Bank, which position he continues to fill very acceptably. He served for fifteen years as city treasurer, and has been very active in all phases of community life.

THE EWING FAMILY

Among the families that emigrated westward early in the decade of the '70s and located in Hall County, one of those whose members played a most distinctive part in building up the Wood River community, was the Ewing family. They were native New Yorkers and hailed from Alleghany County. In 1866 they settled in Cedar County, Iowa, where they farmed until 1871 when they came to Nebraska and settled in Hall County in 1872. Robert Ewing, the father, died in 1871. Robert Jr., William, Charles, and Edwin Ewing became landholders in the community.

JAMES EWING

One of the Ewing family rose to a distinction in the early development of Hall County that entitled him to credit for being one of the leading spirits in its early history. Numerous duties, both public and private, imposed upon him became more than the physical man could endure, and death called him in the midst of his public duties and in the zenith of his career, on October 31, 1888. He was born in Alleghany County, New York, July 7, 1850, and assisted his father on the farm until at sixteen years of age the family removed to Cedar County, Iowa. He was about twenty-three years of age when he came to Hall County and secured employment as a teacher in the Moore district and after a few terms took charge of the school at Shelton. His success in this work and his deep interest in education led to his election as superintendent of public instruction of Hall County in the fall of 1877. After two terms in that office he took charge of the Wood River Gazette, then a five-column folio struggling for existence, and with his editorial ability, good judgment, and sagacious management he built that sheet from a 200 to a 700 circulation. At that time he also served for three years as deputy county treasurer which necessitated his leaving Wood River early in the morning and returning late in the afternoon, and during that period his readers received the benefit of midnight productions of his pen. He had a short respite from such arduous duties after his retirement as deputy treasurer. In 1886 he was elected to serve Hall County in the state legislature, receiving every vote in Wood River township except ten. His public service in that capacity was so satisfactory that he was re-nominated by acclamation by the Republican convention at Grand Island, but did not live to discharge his duties. On January 10, 1884, he was married to Miss Alma E. Thompson, of Hall County, and the result of this union was a son, Arthur (who died December 31, 1888). Mr. Ewing served the town of Wood River as a trustee, for the first seven years, generally as chairman, and gave it valuable service as justice of the peace. During his long service as chairman of the town board, justice of the peace, and township trustee his advice was always found to be sound and to the best interests of the town. Such a man as James Ewing could not associate with the younger men of the community without inspiring them to lead better lives, and without being a decided factor in moulding the community life.

John Ewing, another brother, was also born in Alleghany County, New York, in 1857, and supplemented his common school education with a course at Gibbon Academy, Buffalo County, Nebraska, and taught school in Hall County at the age of 19. He continued in that occupation for seven years. He then became a successful farmer. His wife, Miss Laura Dubbs, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1864, and by her he had a family of four children; Gertrude, William, John A., and James A. His wife was the daughter of W. W. Dubbs, who was born in Ohio and came to Hall County in the spring of 1872, where he has been one of Wood River township's most prominent farmers.

The four brothers first mentioned, Robert, William, Charles, and Edwin, became most successful stockmen and agriculturalists. They lived as bachelors, and became quite talented musicians, one playing the first violin, another the second violine, the third the Bell clarionet, and the fourth the bass viol. Charles Ewing was elected a member of the board of supervisors in Hall County in 1888 and re-elected.

The father and mother, Robert Ewing and wife, were born in Scotland in 1819 and 1824, and died in 1871 and 1883, respectively, but all of their nine children grew to maturity.

O. M. QUACKENBUSH

A great part of the early story of Wood River as it appears in this and other chapters of this work was prepared by O. M. Quackenbush. Mr. Quackenbush was born in LaCross County, Wisconsin, August 13, 1864. In 1879 he came with his parents to Nebraska and located on a farm near Lincoln. From 1881 to 1883 he attended the State University. He then engaged in various employments at Lincoln, Plattsmouth, ad Omaha till 1884, when he located in Saline County and taught school, studied for the law, and was admitted to practise in 1889. He followed his profession and conducted a newspaper in that county till 1894, when he came to Wood River and founded the Wood River Interests. For twenty-five years he continued publishing the Interests and in the practice of law. In July, 1919, he sold his newspaper to W. W. Maltman and removed to Grand Island to give his entire time to the practice of law.

WOOD RIVER

The community of Wood River, lying partly in Wood River and partly in Jackson townships commands a very lage (sic) trade area. The greater portion of both these townships, and a larger portion of Harrison and Cameron on the west, are included in the natural trade territory of Wood River. Therefore the commercial history of Wood River is an important factor in the commercial history of Hall County.

FIRST GENERAL STORES

The establishment of the first general stores has been somewhat touched upon by Mr. Quackenbush in his early history of the village of Wood River, in a preceding chapter. At Old Wood River station, James Jackson and A. A. Baker were the first merchants. In the present Wood River, James Jackson brought over the first store. James White, A. G. Hollister, John Roach, William L. G. trapp, and F. Scwartz were early merchants. The Roach store and the Trapp store opened in 1879. N. T. Brittin purchased the Hollister store in 1880. In 1884 this business was purchased by T. J. Dunn. Stoddard Brothers were in business a short time during the 'eighties. Thos. Langan had a business also during the 'eighties. F. M. Penney came to Wood River in 1886 and engaged in the general merchadise business, and remained in that business until 1893.

During the early 'nineties, James Jackson, F. M. Penney, T. J. Dunn, Fred Scwartz were still in business, and Riley Wescoatt and John Maughan had stores.

The E. Brett sote started in 1892 and is still a continuing business, under the management of James T. Brett. After the death of E. Brett, in 1897, when Mrs. E. Brett became owner of the store, her son, James T. Brett became manager. This store has expanded into a department store of considerable proportions. This store occupies a building which faces on three streets.

In 1899 the general merchandise stores in Wood River were those of James Jackson, E. Brett, T. J. Dunn, W. W. Mitchell, F. Scwartz, with groceries and other items handled by Cushing Brothers and Jos. Rounds.

W. W. MITCHELL

W. W. Mitchell engaged in the general merchadise business in Wood River in 1889, and continued for twenty years, when he sold out to A. E. Rogers who coninued the business for a short time when the stock was bought by Frank Fulton. He conducted the business for several years, closing out the stock and going out of business in 1913. Mr. Mitchell has been one of the leading builders of the Wood River community in many ways. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 2, 1846, and in that state he made his home until 1860 when he went to Michigan and engaged in the lumber business until 1864. He joined the federal navy and served on a gunboat in the squadron under Admiral Farragut. In 1871 he came to Hall county and took up a soldier's homestead near Alda. In 1873 he opened a store in Alda and bought grain and sold farming machinery. He was one of the pioneer builders of the town of Alda. In 1887 he came to Wood River, bought the elevator, and engaged in the grain business, and he also continued his business at Alda. In 1889 he engaged in the general merchadise business in Wood River. He built a brick store, with basement, fine plate glass front, 2,500 running feet of shelving, 600 feet of counter and ample show cases. Since 1894 he has been president of the Citizens State Bank, and though he now makes his home in Omaha he is much in Wood River, with the same consistent interests of Wood River at heart.

S. A. SHERRERD

S. A. Sherrerd came to Wood River January 13, 1877, remained about a year, the went to Wyoming for about eight years, and retured (sic) to Wood River in 1886. He entered the employ of Hollister & Howard, hardware dealers. In 1894 he concluded to engage in the jeweler's trade, which he had learned in Pennsylvania, and accordingly opened a general merchadise store.

Mack's Cash Grocery, operated by Elsa V. McKee, and the Star Grocery, operated by J. A. Rounds, have become leading business institutions of the community.

HARDWARE AND IMPLEMENTS

Ther first general hardware stock in Wood River was opened by William B. Hollister on June 1, 1882. He then carried a stock of $4,000 of hardware and all kinds of implements. He started out with agencies for Randolph, Hedder & Nichols' Shepard thresher. Mr. Hollister had been a long time resident of Wood River then. He had gone to North Platte on May 1, 1868, and taken charge of the Union Pacific telegraph office, and then came to Wood River as station agent and remained in the railroad employ at Wood River until May 1, 1882. The firm of Hollister & Howard continued this hardware business.

The A. C. Murphy hardware business was established some time after the Hollister store and continued for a long time. About 1891 John Diefenderfer established a hardward store, which he ran with the assistance of his sons, Martin and Ernest.

Milton C. Wingert & Sons opened trade in the hardward line some ten years ago.

DRUG STORES

The first drug store in the community was that of Dr. Carter and Son. Jerry Bowen came to Wood River from his farm one and a half miles northeast of town where he had resided for the preceding five years, and after a short employment in the lumber yard of Little & Foster took employment in Dr. Gibson's drug store. In 1886 he engaged in the drug business himself, and in 1892 formed a partnership with M. I. McCarty, which partnership continued for some yers. Mr. McCarty came to Wood River from Ohio in 1884. For the first three years he was in the employ of Freeman Dodge and Frank Howe, and in 1887 went to town as clerk in the F. M. Jenney mercantile establishment, and remained there until 1890, when he became a clerk in the Jerry Bowen drug store. In 1892 he became a partner of Mr. Bowem, and received his diploma as a registerd pharmacist on June 5, 1894. W. P. Connor is now conducting the Rexall Drug Store, the ultimate successor of the old Bowen-McCarty stock. Jerry Bowen served, in additin to his career as a merchant, as vice-president of the Citizens State Bank from 1894 to 1900. Mr. Bowen recently died. During the last years of his life he had been conducting a drug store in the new county-seat town of Arthur, Nebraska.

About 1890, H. Janss opened the second drug store stock in Wood River. This was subsequently owned by Chas. E. Towne, Dr. Thomas, Fred Hollister, and W. L. McKee. In January, 1898, D. E. Wilcox and S. A. Sherrerd associated together in the drug business, under the firm name of Wilcox & Sherrerd. The A. L. Wagoner pharmacy stock has gone out of business. The other leading drug store in the community at present is the Hoye Pharmacy (Nyal Store), which has been successfully conducted by John Hoye.

EARLY COMMRCIAL INTERESTS-1879

In 1879 Wood River comprised the following business men: Bush & Paine, grain dealer; A. M. Hanscom and E. J. McDermott, blacksmiths; A. G. Hollister, postmaster and groccer; W. B. Hollister, railroad agent; C. M. Horn, shoemaker; J. Kennedy, saloon and hotel; and James Jackson, general merchant.

FIVE YEARS LATER-1884

By November, 1884, Wood River was popularly credited with 700 people. Another glance at the business and commercial roster at that time shows remarkable growth in five years. J. H. Shcik was running the Wood River House, the first hotel, and C. W. Stoddard was the new proprietor of the Commrcial House; James Jackson, Stoddard Brothers, Thomas J. Dunn (succeeding N. T. Brittin and the Hollister stock), Thomas Langan, and Henry Janss were engaged in the mercantile trade, R. H. Dodd in the grain trade, and C. C. Bense in the lumber business; Miss Simpson carried on a millinery business; Claud Fransenburg, was butcher; E. C. White, drayman, James Williams, livery stabel owner, and J. B. Burman, shoe dealer. W. W. Mitchell owned the elevator and the Omaha Elevator Company had a grain house.

ANOTHER FIVE YEARS-1889

In five years more Wood River had grown still more in population, and the commercial interests had grown to a still longer list. James Jackson and F. M. Penney were among the leading merchants. Riley Wescoatt enjoyed a large business. Other general merchants were Fred Schwartz, T. J. Dunn and John Maugham; O'Neal & Nolan and J. F. Langan were liquor dealer; H. Janss and Jerry Bowen were then the druggists; Hollister & Howard and A. C. Murphy had the hardware stores; Watts & Williams, Williams & White and James Shick furnished ample livery stable service; the Wood River House was still conducted by James Shick, and the Commercial Hotel then by Fred Thorpe. O. B. Desoe and W. Paris were implement dealers; Austin Ryan conducted a grocery store; Burkerd & Hooten and James Williams were meat dealers; M. J. Parke, coal and grain dealer; W. W. Mitchell, grain and elevator; Wood River Gazette, published by C. W. Mercer; Maddock & Taylor, harness; Miss Annie Simpson still had the millinery shop; Miss Sherry and Miss McGuyre, dress-making; A. M. Hascom, John Wilkinson and J. D. Sanburn, blacksmiths; J. N. Harrison and C. W. Corman, physicians; Howell Lumber Company; A. Harper and Juckett & Jenks, barbers; John O'Connor, C. A. Baldwin and J. R. Jewett, carpenters and builders; Ed Dribelow and W. F. Curtis, painters; G. W. Miller, Brett & Johnson, and N. J. Costello, real estate; Charley Horn and A. C. White, shoemakers; N. T. Brittin, postmaster; John Quinn, stock-dealer; Tom Langan, restaurant; Thorpe mills; E. Baldwin, jewelry; C. A. Tracy, furniture.

TEN YEARS LATER-1899

A resume of the commercial interest ten years later shows that considerable growth and many changes had taken place in the last decade of the nineteenth century in the community of Wood River. The business men of the town about the end of the year 1899 were: J. Bowen & Co., druggists; E. Brett, general merchadise, as said before this store was established in 1892 and Mr. Brett died in 1897, but James T. Brett was manager of the store; Brett & Tyrell, stock buyers; H. Brown, drayman; N. T. Brittin, justice of the peace; Wm. Chidester, carpenter; Citizens State Bank, W. L. Sprague, cashier; Geo. S. Clayton, elevator; Robt. Clark, carpenter; Wm. Colwell, carpenter; Cushing Bros. groceries, boots and shoes; Wm. Curtis, painter and paper hanger; Wm. Cunningham, carpenter; J. H. Diefenderfer, hardward and implements; Dierks Lumber & Coal Co., T. W. Faught, manager; Ed. Dreblow, painter and paper hanger; T. J. Dunn, general merchadise, still in business; First National Bank, F. M. Penney, cashier; N. Fisher, bakery and confectionery; Wm. Fitchhorn, butcher; Foster & Smith Lumber Co., W. T. Spelts, manager; Frank Ford, livery; A. Hanscomb, blacksmith; Geo. Honold, carpenter; Chas. Hoppel, pumps and windmills; John Hoppel, carpenter; James Jackson, general merchandise; W. B. Kern, physician; John Langan, saloon; J. H. Ladley, implements and carpet weaving; R. Mankin, hotel and saloon; John Mathews, plasterer and brick mason; W. W. Mitchell, general merchandise; Geo. W. Miller, real estate, loans and insurance; Miller Bros., blacksmiths; A. C. Murphy, hardware; John Norbeck, tailor; John O'Connor, carpenter; Omaha Elevator Co., S. MacMurray, manager; John Quinn, coal, live stock; O. M. Quackenbush, lawyer, publisher and editor of Interests; N. Ramsdell, painter and paper hanger; J. P. Riddle, physician; Riesland & English, pumps and windmills; Rounds & Colwell, undertaking; Jos. Rounds, grocery and meat market; E. T. Rounds, furniture; Austin Ryan, painter and paper hanger; F. Schwartz, general mechandise, still running; S. A. Sherrerd, jeweler; James Shick, meat market; T. C. Taylor, bakery and confectionery; B. Z. Taylor, implements; W. & F. Thorpe, millers; John Tyrell, saloon; W. N. Wade, harness shop; W. S. Warren, livery; A. C. White, shoe ship; White & Son, livery; Thomas Whalen, Commercial Hotel; Irv. Williams, dray; C. C. Wingert, barber; O. K. Winn, barber; John Wilkinson, blacksmith; Wilcox & Sherrerd, druggists; Wood River Creamery Association.

TEN YEARS LATER-1909

The Wood River Business Directory of 1909-1910, after another decade had elapsed, shows still further changes. Many familiar names are beginning to be missing and new faces appear in the commercial activities of the community:
Agricultural implements: Martin Diefenderfer, A. C. Murphy, B. Z. Taylor; bakery: Harper's Bakery & Restaurant, L. Hawks; banks: Citizens and First National, W. L. Sprague and H. S. Eaton, cashiers; barbers: Model Shop, Wm. Stinchcomb, O. K. Winn, John C. Wilkenson; blacksmiths: John C. Wilkenson, Miller Trell; lumber: Hampton Lumber & Coal Co., S. A. Foster Lumber Co.; carpenters: J. W. Cunningham, J. W. A. Hopper, Earl Hoppel, John R. Jewett, Jr., John R. Jewett, A. M. LaPoint, Carl L. McGlasson, F. J. Morgon; jewelry: S. A. Sherrerd, F. L. F. Leff; confectionery: Harpers, Chas. A. Warren; creameries: Beatrice Creamery Co., H. M. Jones agt.; dentists: M. E. House, C. P. Buler, F. H. Burton; dray lines: J. C. Hutchings, D. V. McKee, Chas. Plummer, Clinton D. Smith; dress makers: Mrs. P. E. Burt, Mrs. G. E. Bridger; druggists: H. Bowen, Hoye's Pharmacy (John and D. J. Hoye); flour mills: --now Wood River Mills, Carter Brothers, props.; general mechandise: Brett Merc. Co. (Jas. T. Brett, manager), James Jackson (then in business 45 years, and his death occured late in 1910), Mitchell Mercantile Co., S. A. Sherrered, J. E. Rounds; grain dealers and elevators: Conrad Grain & Elevator Co., T. B. Hord Grain Co., Omaha Elevator Co., groceries: Brett, Mitchell, Sherrerd, Round, and Thomas J. Dunn; hardware: Martin Diefenderfer, A. C. Murphy, B. Z. Taylor; harness: John R. Sesna; insurance: T. W. Faught, D. D. O'Kane; justice of peace: A. C. White; lawyers: O. M. Quackenbush; live stock dealers: O. W. Eaton & Son, E. S. Leavenworth, Lyons Bros.; livery stables: C. B. Wilson, W. S. Warren, E. C. White & Son; millinery: Mrs. S. C. Jackson; music teachers: Clara E. Smout and Mrs. F. H. Burton; newspapers: Wood River Interests, O. M. Quackenbush, editor and proprietor, Wood River Sunbeam, W. W. Maltman, proprietor; nursery company: Wood River Nursery Co., W. T. Spelts, manager; Standard Oil Co..; painters: W. H. Brunner and Edward Deblow; physicians: Dr. A. T. Hubbel, F. J. Eeisland and H. E. Irwin; pumps: G. G. Gard, Agt. U. P. R. R.; Wamburg & Isenberger, bakery and restaurant, Thos. Ryan, restaurant; John Norbeck, tailor; D. D. O'Kane, manager, Nebraska Telephone Co.; H. E. Irwin, tinner; E. D. Johnson, undertaker.

ANOTHER TEN YEARS-1919

Another decade, down to date, shows may startling changes. A notable feature about the roster of the present commercial interests down to the present time, shows lines of business that formerly were stongly represented, and the presence of new lines, such as garages, picture shows, etc., which have developed in the last decade.

The business interests of Wood River, in 1919 are: Agricultural implements: C. A. Fairbanks; theatres: Gem Theatre (formerly Lyric Theatre), for moving pictures, and Moore's Opera House (still in service); attorney: O. M. Quackenbush; auto livery and garages: E. Diefenderfer, J. E. Rounds, T. E. J. Paulk, Ed Breblow; the same banks, Citizens and First National; barbers: T. E. Ryan and O. K. Winn; blacksmiths: Geo. C. Miller, John C. Wilkinson, Trell Miller, and Mell Lynch; confectioners: C. B. Wilson; cream station: Wise King; dentist: Dr. A. Carlson (Dr. Bulger deceased a short time ago); doctors: A. T. Hubbell and H. L. Starkey; drug stores: Hoye's Pharmacy (Nyal Store) and W. P. Connor (Rexall Store); elevators: Central Nebraska Elevator Co., T. B. Hord Grain Co., and Hampton Grain Co. (Omaha Elevator Co., formerly; furniture: E. T Rounds (having purchased stock of Anderson Furniture Co.), and a new store, Turner & Co., about to open; hardward: P. H. West (also handling implements), and Milton C. Wingert & Sons; general merchadise stores: Brett Mercantile Co. (Mayor James T. Brett, manager), J. E. Harper (successor to E. E. Brittin's store), Mack's Cash Grocery (Elsa V. McKee), J. A. Rounds, Samuel S. Sherrerd; harness: H. N. Wade; hotels: Mankin House, A. M. Sheets; live stock dealers: Jos. H. Cunningham, E. S. Leavenworth, Fred J. Miller, Newt Senseney (Peter Holling in business short time ago, now out); livery stables: Scott Warren (successor to Warren & Wilson), E. C. White & Co. (successor to Williams & White); lumber yards: S. A. Foster Lumber Co. and Hampton Lumber & Fuel Company; meat markets: Sheets Market; millinery: Brett Mercantile Co.; music teachers: Mrs. Geo. Stone nad Mrs. O. H. Lilley; newspapers: The Interests, O. M. Quackenbush, editor; pool and billiards: Tom Miller, Lewis Wilson; real estate: David D. O'Kane (postmaster and manager Nebraska Telephone Co.), and Seth W. Wilson; restaurants: Jas. Juckett; veterinary surgeon: Robt. Green; jeweler: E. S. Sherrerd; mills: Wood River Roller Mills, J. J. Carter, proprietor.