Davenport, Nebr., Febr. 7, 1921Dear Journal:
As the Editor of the Journal has asked for a few notes from this place regarding it's early history, we are enabled thru the kindness of friends who came here before ourselves to present the following data reguarding the early days in Davenport.
The earliest settler of whom we have heard is Al Livings who came here in 1870, homesteading four miles north of Davenport.
At this time there was no railroad here, no town, and few settlers. Mail was brought to this place from Elm Grove, James Lawrence being the first postmaster. He had an old fashioned trunk or chest is which he kept the mail, on his homestead, north of town and whenever he went visiting he took the chest with him, so that no one knew exactly where they would find the post offfice or the postmaster.
The St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad was built far as Marysville, KS. in 1870, and to this place about two years later, John G. Prosser was agent here from the fall of 1872 until Oct. 1873. John O'Hara was the first section boss.
W.H. Smith was one of the early employes of the railroad company, commencing work for them Oct. 23rd, 1879.
The town was laid out in 1872, being named by Adam Littig for his old home town, Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Littig built the first residence here, it being the house which burned a few years ago, the home of Mrs. Noah Brittenham.
G.G. Pratt was an early settler, homesteading about five miles north of town in 1872 and was the post master here about 1880.
Nancy Chapman was one of the first women to settle on a homestead, in this locality. She later became Mrs. L. Shadduck.
B.F. Stump came here in the fall of '77 and sold general merchandise, first using a freight car as a place of business while erecting the first store building in Davenport. This building occupied the location that Portwood Bros. now have, and the building is the one south of the blacksmith shop, which until her death was occupied by Mrs. Walter for a residence. This building was erected by Bradley Smith, father of W.H. Smith. The earlier business houses were all on the west side of main street.
Edy Randall was another old settler, homesteading in '71.
Dr. Jas. G. Van de Walker was the first physician to locate here, coming in 1879. He lived in a two room house between the present homes of A.J. Croft and J.B. Row. The house itself is now the rear part of J.B. Row's residence.
The first school house was a one-room structure on the lots now owned by W.F. Bates and on the site of the house occupied by Earl Axtell. It was taught the winter of '79 and '80 by a Miss Delaney, who is the first teacher here of whom we have record.
The Shelton hotel was the first hostelry, and was built in 1879, occupying the site where A.J. Croft has his residence. A second hotel was soon opened by J.W. Gazelle, near where the cream station now stands.
In 1880 Mrs. Agnes McAleese built the main part of the house now occupied by Dr. Dewel.
Besides the ones we have mentioned we find the folowing were some of the people doing business here in '79 and '80. Chas. G. Peil, hardware; McShane Bros., druggists; Orson V. Knowlton, furniture; Geo. Bearnes, general merchandise; Wesley Teter, implements; M. Bolton, lumber; W.E. Miles, M.T. Meyers, J.M. Berkey, E.J. Buck, E. Delaney, L.D. Wellington, Eugene L. Lyons, L.Mason, G.H. Galbraith, W. Teters, Samuel Johnston, S. Sponable, Chas. Eaton, J. Duncan and J.H. Eberman.
The first church building to be erected in town was the Methodist, which was dedicated in Dec. 1884. A.L. Beggs, pastor.
The first newspaper of which we learn, was published in 1880 by Green Davis, and contained both the Carleton and Davenport news. We regret that we are unable to give the name of this publication.
We have told of some of the fist business ventures in town. There still remains the story of the first "biled shirt," which was quite a rarity in the early days. Sam Johnston, a prominent stockraiser and shipper living on the Blue, rode his pony into town one day after a recent trip to St. Joseph, Mo., wearing a white shirt. He was the cynosure of all eyes, and the butt of much good natured raillery in regard to it. He was asked when it had been purchased, and hwat he would sell it for. He said that he had bought it in S. Joe, but would sell it for $2.00, where upon Charlie McShane, a druggist passed up the $2.00, and while the pony pranced, its rider divested himself of his recent purchase, and presented it to the new owner.
Mrs. C.C. McLeese
Home | Table of Contents | History