Our Past Is Present July 12, 2018

July 12, 2018

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Information for today’s story came from an article originally written by the late Marilyn Heldstab and was published in the “Daily Union” newspaper in 1993. The title of Marilyn’s article was “The History of Milford Involves Names Familiar Today.” 

            This is some of what she wrote: “The first settlers began establishing homesteads in the community of Milford in 1855.  In 1858, the town was chartered in the name of Bachelor.  The name was later changed to Milford because the postmaster was unhappy with the (frequent) misspelling of the name of the town.

            In another article in the “Milford Times” dated November 10, 1892, the following information is shared about Milford: “The town is the oldest on the Republican River.  It is situated about fourteen miles from the mouth of the river on the Fort Kearney branch of the Union Pacific Railroad.  It is originally named Bachelor, after one of the original town Companies from Boston, who came here in 1857.

            Other early settlers and business persons were J.C. Kenner, who had one of the most diversified stocks of goods found in the country.  Mr. A.F. Fawley, had the largest stock of general merchandise in the town.  He also was in the grain business along with Mr. Ed Mellinger, who was in the cattle and hog business.

            Joe Williamson, who succeeded the firm of E.C. Bartell and Sons was also in the general merchandise business. Joe Roether and Son were the hardware men with a complete stock in their line and sold a large number of implements, wire, coal and shelf hardware.

            Ed Steckel was the blacksmith and a Mr. Pickering was the wagon maker.  He worked on buggies and did repair work. One of the oldest resident physicians in the county was Dr. Bard and William Bard was the restauranteur, who also sold candy, groceries, fresh oysters, repaired watches, clocks and jewelry.

            The public schools were conducted by Mr. Newby as the Principal and Miss Gertie Brown taught the primary department. There were several denominations of churches in early Milford as well as dressmakers and places to purchase choice cuts of meat.

            Perhaps some of the names bring back thoughts of the early days of Milford before the Dam and Lake were put in its place.  We have a display in Gallery 1 about the flooding that eventually led to the construction of the Milford Dam and Reservoir.  Stop by our Museum any day Tuesdays through Sundays between 1 and 4 and take a look at the display and you will see why we say “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.