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LONG TIME AGO. (Prepared from files in The Signal office of corresponding dates.) Forty Years Ago. Fred Shelby was given the job of cutting the grass on the courthouse square. The Burlington added another passenger train each way on the main line through Fairmont. Mail was being distributed semi-weekly by Mr. Adams at Ohiowa and by Mr. Garrison at Gazelle. Mrs. Cal Hager died at the home northeast of Fairmont of consumption. She was twenty-six years of age. Two thousand people attended the Fourth of July celebration at Franklin. Elder Pardee delivered the oration. A new state law forbade the drawing of county warrants for ninety days after the claims had been allowed. Dempster Bros. of Geneva were building a 20x30 foot addition to their store building, making it the largest in the county. The new opera house in Geneva was opened by the Geneva Dramatic company with the well-known temperance play, "Fruits of the Wine Cup." Mr. Lindsley, who owned the Rockwell place in Chelsea township, sold it for $5,000 and purchased the H. P. Garrett farm in Madison township for the same price. The national anti-monopoly convention at Chicago was deemed a failure by many people of Nebraska because a majority favored starting a new national party instead of trying to maintain a balance of power between the old parties. Thirty Years Ago. J. M. Curren sold his implement store at Ohiowa to Mr. Albright of Crete. James Keegan's stable, crib and shed near Fairmont were destroyed by fire. Prof. E. D. Stewart of Ulysses was elected principal of the Fairmont school. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Nichols, southwest of Fairmont, were given a surprise party by neighbors on their fifteenth wedding anniversary. Grafton teachers elected were: L. D. Johnson, principal; S. Doty, assistant principal; Grace Fitzgerald, second primary; Nellie Stevens, first primary. The teachers' institute was being held at Geneva. The instructors assisting County Superintendent J. J. Burke were Supt. William Valentine of McCook and Mrs. E. F. Tucker of Lincoln. About 150 patrons of the Geneva post office went to the home of Ex-Postmaster W. H. Stewart and took possession. Attorney Boggs, on behalf of the patrons, presented Mr. Stewart with a gold watch and Cora Stewart, who had been deputy postmaster, with a Smith Premier typewriter. Refreshments were served. The cornerstone of the new courthouse was laid by the Masons July 6. Several thousand people were present. Over 500 marched in the parade. Grand Master J. P. A. Black of Bloomington laid the stone. There was a big display of fireworks at night. A merry-go-round did a big business. The Congregational ladies served lunch in the park. The American Loan and Trust Co. of Omaha failed. O. M. Carter, the president, was also president of the Bank of Grafton. A run on the bank started but a committee of citizens made an examination and issued a statement which stopped the run. The bank was reorganized by electing W. G. Hainey, president; J. W. Price, vice president and J. T. Hinkley, cashier. Twenty Years Ago. C. H. Bauer sold his hardware store at Strang to E. E. Wheeler. C. E. Hyde purchased the laundry and china store. William Warner died at his home in Chelsea township at the age of seventy-seven. Florence H. Weed and Robert H. Wilson of Denver were married at Denver. J. E. Menzie and E. K. Richards were elected school trustees of the Grafton district. Dr. R. Woods purchased a quarter block east of the school house. He intended to build a residence. C. W. Buckner, a tramp printer, was killed by a Northwestern freight on which he was trying to steal a ride. Earl Gamble shot himself in the leg with a revolver supposed to be loaded with blank cartridges while celebrating the Fourth. The Shickley Farmers' Elevator company let the contract for the building of their new elevator to Mr. Watson of David City.