. Butcher's pioneer history of Custer County : and short sketches of early days in Nebraska . d his store,building and all, some five miles up the valley, where he founded the townof Dale. This led to the formation of a towusite company at Merna, and a townwas located and laid out on section 36, two miles northw^est of Brothertonsstore, and within three miles of Dale. Authority was granted by the post-office department at Washington to move the postoffice to the new site. formed a partnership with Milton Casteel and J. D. Strong and dt^partment store was opened. W. E
. Butcher's pioneer history of Custer County : and short sketches of early days in Nebraska . d his store,building and all, some five miles up the valley, where he founded the townof Dale. This led to the formation of a towusite company at Merna, and a townwas located and laid out on section 36, two miles northw^est of Brothertonsstore, and within three miles of Dale. Authority was granted by the post-office department at Washington to move the postoffice to the new site. formed a partnership with Milton Casteel and J. D. Strong and dt^partment store was opened. W. E. Warren built a shack and hungout a mortar and pestle, which indicated to all concerned that he had a AND SHORT SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS IN NEBRASKA. 71 fresh assoi-tiiuut of dnios and a limited supply of stomach bitters for the business side of these ventures is not a pleasant memory to the ^en-llemen concerned, the old croquet ground and the old sod town hall, whichcame into existence through their untiring enegy, will always be an oasis inthat desert of uncertain business C. p. Footes Old Pioneer House at Merna, Neb. Mr. Foote, at tliis tiije,was Sheriff of Custer County. Later, a blacksmitli shop, a frame hotel, and another store made theirappearance, but to-day the old townsite is plowed as a field and yields itsstore of grain to feed Custer countys helpless poor, as it is a part of thecounty poor farm. During the summer and fall of 1886 the B. & M. railroad was extendedfrom Grand Island to Alliance, and the Lincoln Townsite Company pur-chased Brothertons old claim and relocated Merna on the site of its settled the townsite controversy and the future of Merna was assured. The town grew rapidly into a respectable village, with many lines oftrade and various industries represented. Brotherton and Warren movedfrom the new Merna back to the old site, and a rush of population from theEast caused houses to spring up like mushrooms after a rain. Mr.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectfrontie, bookyear1901
