Precinct "L" (Township 10 North, Range 1 East)
Seward County, Nebraska
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Precinct "L" INDEX
History of "L" in History of Seward County, Nebraska by W. W. Cox, 1888The following article is from W. W. Cox, History of Seward County, Nebraska, 1888, Chapter VI, pages 123-124:
[Surnames: CASSLER, DONOVAN, FOUSE, FOSTER, HORTON, TISDALE, TURNER]
"L" PRECINCT.
Town ten, range one east, was first settled by John E. Fouse, at the crossing of Beaver creek, in 1862, where he opened a ranch on the old freight road. Mr. Fouse lived here many years in a sort of a rough-and-tumble way, trading with travelers and Indians. The [p.124] writer was at his place in 1864, and at the time the ranch was kept in an immense dug-out on the bank of the creek. There were a great many tough stories told in connection with this ranch in the pioneer days, but we will not reiterate them, as we are hardly able to vouch for their truthfulness. Mr. Fouse was a peculiar character, and his place became somewhat famous for the many tragic events there enacted. Whiskey was an important article of trade at the ranch.Thos. Tisdale opened his little store and the post-office in 1869, and a Mr. Donovan also settled in the neighborhood about the same time. The real substantial settlement began in 1870, when the prairies began to be homesteaded. Thomas Foster built the first frame house in April. His mother, Widow Foster, and family, and F. M. Horton made settlement shortly afterwards. In 1871 there were great numbers who made settlement. The first school of which we can learn was taught by John Turner, on what is known as the Norman Cassler farm, in the summer of 1873. While "L" is one of our foremost farming precincts, it has no railroad and no village within its borders, but is happily situated convenient to four stations on two different railroads, and has a choice of markets within an hour's drive from any point. The south-western portion is somewhat rough, but the lands are good. The other and larger portion is as fine farming land as can be found anywhere. It contains 139 farms and 843 people, with five schools. The precinct has the choice of Utica, Tamora, Goehner, and Beaver Crossing for market places, and the farthest farm from a station does not exceed six miles.
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