MARIPOSA PRECINCT

   The precinct was organized August 24, 1869. The settlement of Malmo, first called Edensburg, had its beginnings in 1886. This was the first Swedish settlement in the county with an organized church. Preacher Larson from Alma would preach there on Sunday evenings. He preached in Alma on a Sunday morning, afoot or horseback to Swedeburg in the afternoon, and on to Edensburg in the evening.

   The Swedish families came by train to Council Bluffs, Iowa and here they hired a team for $50 and loaded the wagon with their belongings; the men, women, and children in all six families, were forced to walk. They followed the Missouri River down the Iowa side until opposite Plattesmouth, then ferried across and came to Ashland, fording Salt Creek and Saline Ford.

   L. Isaacson was the first settler near the vicinity, coming to this country from Kristianstad Lan, Sweden, in 1868, and homesteading in the following Spring. It is recorded that Andrew Blomberg came two weeks later from Omaha with a colony of Swedes from Dalcadia.

   The first newspaper in the community was the Malmo Clipper edited and owned by J.T. Camp. He sold it in 1893 and bought a partnership in the Fremont Flail. (He was supposed to flail the Populists.)

   Mariposa Precinct officers for 1983-87 are Donald Lindgren, Chairman; Eula J. Peterson, Clerk; and Charles J. Proskavec, Treasurer.

   The town of Malmo is situated in Section 15, Mariposa Precinct. It is a small but industrious and important town. This town is located on the Schuyler branch of the Burlington Railroad, with two trains each day.

   Malmo had its beginning in 1886, at which time the town was surveyed on land purchased from Jerry Fisher. The names of Ostenburg, Bredenburg, Hulsing, Bostrom, Bruce, Blomberg, Rosenberg, Nelson, Larson, Ljungstrom, Olson, Frostrum, Hokanson, Erickson, Eliason, and Pherson are prominent among the early settlers of Malmo and vicinity. The first church was organized January 15, 1870.

   Gus Bredenburg, Charles Hulsing and Ed Bostrom constructed the first store in the village in 1887. This was a general store. The firm of Marsh and Chapman put up the second store. The first hotel was owned and operated by Fannie Baldwin.

Security Home Bank, Malmo

   The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Malmo was started in 1892 by W.H. Ostenburg as a private bank. On March 4, 1893, the bank was incorporated by the following men: W.H. Ostenburg (cashier), J.C. Frahm, R.B. Van Driel (President), C.J. Harrison, Peter Riemers, D.E. Bridenburg (Vice President), John Frostrom, J.J. Johnson, C.W. Bruce, A.E. Larson, Edward Bostrom, and P.B. Olson. The first capital stock was $25,000, the same as at present. The institution carries a surplus fund of $5,000 and the deposits average $200,000 on the year.

   Peter Riemers was the President in 1915, C.W. Bruce was Vice President, Herman Lind was cashier, and W.H. and H.H. Ostenburg, J.C. Frahm, Christian Scow, M.S. Hills and Andrew Roslund were the directors. This bank has borne a steady reputation for splendid business methods and no bank in the county carries a greater amount of the dependency and faith of the people.

   In 1948 the bank was moved to its present location and the name was changed to Security Home Bank. In 1982 the bank was remodeled. An Open House was held on August 8, 1982, to the public for this commemoration. Directors at this time are Donald Cejka, Amy Houfek, Abner H. Dauel, Wayne Barry, Mike Leicke, and H. Patrick Erickson. Donald Cejka is President of the bank and Mildred F. Pacal is the cashier.

   First business building on the south end of the block was owned by the Amberg Brothers, hardware and implements.

   Art Frahm was the next owner, followed by Vaugh.

   Bordovsky added general merchandise, groceries and furniture. Chas. and Frank Kastl also owned the place for a time.

   Holtorf Brothers, (Jerry and Jack) bought the place in 1910. They discontinued the groceries and general merchandise. In 1912 they assembled about 15 harvesters for small grain. They were just becoming popular about that time.

   Chas. Mantel bought the business from the Holtorf Brothers. He added a brick garage to the north side of the hardware building. He sold the property to the Volin Brothers, Jerry and Fred. On April 10, 1945 the Volin Brothers opened the Hardware and Garage for business. They operated a fuel and gas truck to deliver to the community, since most of the heat was derived from fuel oil stoves. Farmers had gas delivered for their equipment. They helped in many community affairs, and were always available when called in emergencies. They were missed very much when they decided to retire in April of 1973.

   An auction was held for two days, March 31 and April 1, 1973. The buildings were sold at auction also. Submitted by Josephine L. Jenny and Mrs. Elmer Pacal

Jerry Volin, Jack Schultz, Fred Volin, with garage

Burlington Depot, Malmo, 1905

   The first depot was the standard or regular type depot that all the towns on the route had. Living quarters upstairs, depot office, baggage and freight rooms on the ground floor.

   Fiddock was probably the first depot agent. Others are French, McFarland, Baumann, Melvin Pipkin and Cora Pipkin. Mrs. Pipkin was the last agent residing in Malmo. There was a section foreman's residence on the north side of the track. Situated a little west in the trees. Carl Moline was the first foreman. Swan Larson was the last.

   In the early 1900's a group of English families organized the Presbyterian congregation. Malmo had two Swedish congregations, the Edensburg Lutheran and the Mission Covenant and the St. John's German Lutheran, north of town.

   The congregation bought a lot or two on the north end of main street on the east side and had a church built there. The congregation flourished for ten years or so. They had Sunday morning services, an active choir, Sunday School and also evening special services. A visiting pastor supplied them with the services.

   Some family names supporting the church were: Bredenberg, Fay, Rogers, Yarrington, Staudinger, Bowen, Hills, Drs. Ross, Keyes, Emmett, Miss Harriet Frahm, and Miss Blanch Jones and others.

   The church was dissolved about ten years later. Too many of the supporting families had moved away. Those remaining could not sustain it. The property was sold to Orpheus Kemerling, who remodeled it into a residence. The property is now the Larry Hauschild residence.

   One or two summers in 1900 and 1901, Malmo also had services or revival meetings under a tent on Sunday afternoons or evenings. It was located on a vacant lot south of the Levi Isaacson residence, where Bessie (Wm) Dauel now lives. The Ockander family, who lived several miles east of Malmo furnished the music and accompanied the singing, with their stringed instruments, banjos, guitars, and the like. It was a real pleasure to sit on our porch or on the lawn to listen to the music. Submitted by Josephine L. Jenny

Building Malmo Covenant Church

   The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Association Bethesda Church was organized May 8, 1876. The original church was located 2 miles northeast of Malmo, Nebraska. At this time the church was under the leadership of Rev. John Peterson of Oakland. Then, in 1889 the church applied for membership in the Bethesda Evangelical Covenant Church of which it is presently a member. The second church was erected in Malmo, Nebraska in 1905 and was dedicated on February 4, 1906. Total cost of labor and materials was $8,512.81.

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Edensburg Lutheran Church -- Malmo

   Every community has its beginning. It was about 1868 that homesteaders started to settle in this area living in dugouts and sod huts. There was a longing and hungering for the establishment of God's kingdom in their midst and thus the Edensburg Lutheran Congregation of Malmo, Nebr. was organized April 25, 1870 in a dugout which was the home of Lars P. Bruce. Rev. S.G. Larson acted as Chairman of this first meeting. He served as pastor until 1871. He was stationed at Mead, Nebr. and came to Malmo, Nebr. once a month.

   The church work during the early history progressed slowly with good prospects for a steady growth. However, in 1876, a number of members withdrew and organized the Mission Church. The Congregation received its first regular pastor, Rev. Nordling, in 1877. The settlers held meetings in their homes and in 1877 the Congregation purchased a plot of ground south of Malmo for a Cemetery. The same year the first church, a frame structure was built there. The men of the congregation under the supervision of Peter Nygren volunteered many days of labor. Later a parsonage was built near the church. In 1890, the Congregation was encouraged to tear down the old church property and build a new church and parsonage in the village of Malmo.

   Pastors during this period were: J.P. Nyquist, O.A. Johnson, F.W. Berquist, U.N. Thoren, and F. Wyman. During Pastor John's service a fire occurred and damaged the building. After much deliberation, the Congregation decided to build a new house of worship. The steeple from the old church was used in the construction of the present building built in 1914 at a cost of $9,500.00. Rev. John Johns rendered uncompensated service in manual labor at this building. Services were held in the Swedish language and while Rev. W.X. Magnuson was serving, the language was converted to English.

   During the following years, pastors who have served were: Rev. G. Bergman, Arnold Thoren, A.T. Fant, Emil Swanson, Arthur Pierce, Carl Danielson, Reuben Kron, Frank Freeman, Henry Trawney, and our present pastor Paul Hansen.

   Edensburg has the distinction of being the birthplace of the Nebraska Conference in 1886 and also of the Women's Missionary Society in 1906.

   The true spirit of the pioneers is still being revealed in the diligence and cooperation among the members of Edensburg. It is the prayer of all that it can remain Christ-centered with soul winning as its major goal. To Him be the glory forever and ever.

   Sons of the Congregation who have become pastors are: Rev. C.G. Olson, A.E. Monell, Olaf Hanson, Arthur Johnson, Hjalmer Jackson, and Paul Reimers.

   Description: SE-¼, Section 4 -- The SE-¼ of the NE-¼ of Section 4. Registered in 1875 -- Date of Deed March 16, 1878 -- Filed January 21, 1882. Three miles north, one mile west and ¼-mile south of Malmo, Nebraska.

   In 1875, the German settlers that had come to Douglas and Mariposa precincts in the late 1960's and early 1970's and other neighbors in the area felt there was a great need for a burial ground or cemetery. They bought the above described piece of ground in Section 4. The congregation of the Reformed Church and the later St. John's Church supported the Cemetery. As the years passed, it fell upon St. John's members to supply a Cemetery Committee.

   St. John's Church was dissolved in 1970. The Cemetery Committee at this date is: Mrs. Betty Barry, Mrs. Shirley Holtorf and Mr. Larry Dauel, all of Malmo, Nebraska.

   In 1978, at the instigation of Mrs. Josephine Jenny, the Cemetery Committee and families whose family members were buried at Union Cemetery, attempted to raise money for a memorial. It turned out to be a simple task to raise the funds to erect a Memorial Stone for St. John's Lutheran Church, and to place it on the Union Cemetery. Submitted by Josephine Holtorf Jenny

   District #36 was started in approximately 1872. The first school building of Dist. #36 was located one-half mile east of the present village of Malmo. It was here the children of the early settlers of the district began their education, and drank water from a flowing spring on the bank of nearby Cottonwood Creek. Some, who still have families here, told of waiting out the terrible blizzard of 1888 in this building.

1910 - Ninth Grade Graduation Class MALMO, NEBRASKA

Top Row from left: Jesse Morris, Ernest Holtorf, Josephine Van Driel and Maynard Isaacson. Bottom Row: Olive Morris, Clara Holtorf, A. W. Morris, Principal, Alta Hills and Josephine Holtorf. All deceased escept, Josephine Van Driel, Alta Hills, and Josephine Holtorf

Malmo School -- 1905-1980

   In 1891, the district built a two room school in the village of Malmo. By 1905, the building was outgrown and a new 4-room building was erected. The two-room school was divided into two dwellings that are still in use. The 4-room building served the needs of the district until 1981. A new building was constructed and ready for the 1981-1982 school term.

   From 1936 to 1958, District #36 was an accredited 12-grade school. Since 1958, it has been a grade school, offering kindergarten through 8th grade classes.

   In 1980, teachers and anyone ever having attended School District 36 held a potluck supper and evening, reminiscing of past years, at the Malmo Veterans Building. There were about 140 present.

   In 1982, a supper was held again, when 150 people attended from various parts of the states. Future plans are to have an alumni reunion within five years.

   The original building was constructed in 1904 and formerly housed a grade school on the bottom floor and the high school on the top. During this period, there were some good basketball players on the school teams. Practice was held in the town hall as were the games. There were also cheerleaders and, at one time, a girls' basketball team and volleyball team. The high school was closed in 1958 and students were sent to Wahoo, Prague, Cedar Bluffs, or Weston.

New Grade School -- Aug 1981, Malmo

   Removing the top floor, which was in bad condition, and remodeling the rest of the building would be at an estimated cost of $50,000. There really was not a choice. A new building was the best solution at a price of $80,000. The old structure was sold at an auction to a Fremont firm for $60. The furnishings were transferred to the new building. A large classroom fills most of the upper floor of the new school. Besides the janitor's room, there is an area for arts and crafts, equipped with a sink, lockers and bathrooms. The school is designed so that building additions would be easy. It is also equipped for the handicapped students, if necessary. A propane gas furnace and air conditioning unit are enclosed in a separate room in the basement.

   Tradition plays a large part in the school, since several generations of Malmo community families attended school here. Submitted by Mildred F. Pacal

   School District 97, then known as Pleasant View School, was located two miles south and one-half mile east of Malmo, Nebraska. This was the property of Olaf Bruce, a widower. The deed was signed by him to the School District on May 13, 1879. This deed is still legible and in the hands of Alfred Peterson, Wahoo, Nebraska.

   I remember attending school in the one-room building, which had rows of desks which seated two people. Each year we were anxious to see who the teacher chose for our desk partner. The girls were always seated together and the boys likewise.

   I started school in 1924, and at one time during these days, my three sisters and four brothers all attended. This meant eight lunches to pack daily. There were thirty-two pupils in school for a few years and one teacher. There was a pot-bellied stove in the room for heat. The hall was shut off to conserve heat in winter. Water was drawn from a

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