The story of the settlement and growth of Almena differs only in the immaterial point of names, dates, and personal experiences from that of any other town in the country.
The adjustment to life in a new country under new conditions was an experience common to all; so was the hard necessity of getting a new view point on what constituted necessities and comforts. All had to square the shoulders and set the chin to keep from ignoble surrender to the loneliness of the isolated life, and from useless and enervating longing for loved ones “back home.” All learned to love the freedom of God’s Great Out-of-Doors, with its unrestricted and unconventional life.
All had to work with the hands for daily bread, and all enjoyed the good health and high sprits that result from hones toil.
The story of Almena, like that of all the other towns, deals with the “short and simple annals of the poor.” for the few, if any, people of wealth, came in those early days to face the heart-breaking nerve-racking sordid privations and discomforts of life on the boundless prairies of the frontier.
Yet, it is a recital to touch the heart, to stir the blood, and to win the honor and admiration of all who can appreciate high courage and patient endurance.
It required “back bone” “sand” and “grit” , and if the last two were lacking Old Mother Earth was only too glad to furnish them, in sullen retaliation for the e scratching of her peaceful, virgin face by their breaking plows and harrows.
The telling of their story of grim humor, and tender pathos needs the facile and eloquent pen of an exert, and not the feeble, faltering one of a ”Tyro”.
Many a noteworthy fact, or entertaining bit of history; many quaint or amusing experience; many a charming tale are gone forever, because the “Old Timers” were too unassuming and modest to think their taming of the prairies would be special value to the coming generations.
How our boys of today would love to listen in wide-eyed wonder to the blood-curdling, hair-lifting tales of buffalo hunting and Indian fighting that Old Ame Cole could tell, when he fell into a reminiscent mood, which was not often.
But alas, for the story-lovers! Uncle Ame passed over the Great Divide too soon for their pleasure.
Excluding the Spanish adventures the government path-finders and the gold seekers, who, possibly, passed over this section of the then Great Desert, Ame Cole was the first white man to enter Norton County.
In all probability, he came with a party, but there names are now unknown and their memory long forgotten.
He came for the specific and avowed purpose of hunting buffalo, but incidentally and from stern necessity, he became a famous Indian hunter as well, not from love of bloody deeds, but in defense of life and property.
He never would tell just how many redskins he had sent to the Happy Hunting Ground in his scrimmages with them, but no doubt, it was enough to make life safer on the Prairie Dog.
In one of his bouts with them he received a bullet wound the head that later in life so affected the brain that he was not always responsible for his deeds or words.
He may have held the view, that for a frontiersman, the only good Indian was a dead Indian.
He could speak the Sioux language like one of them. He was away from civilization for many months in succession only returning for needed supplies or to sell or trade his buffalo hides. It has been told of him that he could take the Indian lope and keeping it up has been know to go to Kirwin and back in a day, carrying as sack of flour on his shoulder when he returned.
He has been called a very eccentric man, but people who knew him we; say he was no more odd that most people. In personal appearance he was a fine upstanding specimen of the genus homo –a real man’s man.
He had cold black hair, keen penetrating black eyes, and was a typical plainsman. After the buffalo became scarce, through the narrowing of the grazing grounds caused by the onrushing hordes of land-hungry settlers Mr. Cole homesteaded on land opposite to that taken by his brother George, which he occupied until a few years ago, and was buried in Phillipsburg. Ha was always respected here, where he was known as an honest upright man, square as the make ‘em and one whose “word was as good as the wheat.” He named Wild Cat, and Horse Creeks for obvious reasons.
All honor to Ame Cole and may we keep his memory green, for it was such as he, the vanguard of the home seeders, who made the pathway to this fair heritage of ours easier to the feet of those who followed.
The Knights of Pythias was organized at Almena on April 4, 1886.
- L. Bennett was born in 1878 in Jackson county, Kansas and came to this county on 1905 and in 1907 he brought out the meat market of J. S. Bantam, which he stills runs. He is the father of two children, and members of the Odd Fellows, the K. of P. and M. W. A.
- L. Rose was born in 1881 in Fond Du Lae, Wis. He came to Norton county in 1887. He was married to Ethel Schaffer in 1913 Mr. Rose is a good newspaper man and has bee connected with several newspaper man and has bee connected with several newspaper enterprises in and around Almena. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
Will R. Burr, the present owner of the Almena Plaindealer, is a hustling newspaper man and is giving Almena a newspaper in which she can well take pride. Mr. Burr was born in Sheridan county, Missouri, in 1869 in 1860 and came to Almena in 1912. He has held several township offices.
Mr. R.D. Irwin, the present owner of the hardware store at Almena, has made a success of the business. She is the mother of two children – Howard, born in 1901 and Ester, born in 1902 She is a member or the Easter Star. Mr. Irwin, her husband, a man well liked by all who knew him and a pioneer business man of Almena, died in 1906.
- Hamilton was born in 1891 in Casey, Iowa and came to this country in 1916 where he is engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Hamilton is an experienced real estate and insurance man and a fine addition to Norton County’s real estate men.
While we are enjoying all of the luxuries of today let us not forget all the hardships that a few pioneers had to endure to make all of them possible. When Mr. J. H. Reeves cam to Almena in 1874, Fort Kearney was the nearest railway point and it took a week to make the trip. All the supplies had to be shipped overland from there. It is to men of the Reeves type who blessed the trail, that we owe the modern town in Norton county today. Mr. Reeves is in the grain business and enjoying well earned prosperity .
The Tellessen brothers, came to this country from Norway in 1883 and they are a good example of what hard and consistent work will do for any man with a determination to make good. They have been in business in Almena for the past nine years and have one of the most up-to-date repair shops in the county. Carl was born in 1880. He married Alma Duling, an Almena girl. Theo was born in 1876 and married in 1907 to Miss Dolly Snodgrass. Both brothers are good practical garage men, and work done there is done right!
Put your picture show in the hands of the right man and it will take its place along side of the church and the school as an instrument of good, for there is nothing more instructive than good clean pictures
In M. P. Smith Almena, not only has a clean show man but a man who has confidence enough in Almena to build a new building for show purpose exclusively Mr. Smith came to this country in 1879. He spent most of his early years on the farm but in 1914, realizing the need of a clean amusement place in Almena, he started to build the Lyric theatre which was completed in December 1915.A’s a farmer Mr.: Smith was successful and as showman he is still Successful.
- L. Fearing has’ been in Almena .for two’ years, and filled long-felt want when he opened up a photograph studio here. Before coming to Almena Mr. Fearing was at Mankato for seventeen years. He was born in Iowa in 1874 and ill 1897 he married Opha Dazey of Mankato. They have four children, two boys and two girls. Mr. Fearing’ has a nice trade in the county and his work justifies it. He is not’ only a good business man but a hustler and a booster for Almena.
Just 37 years ago Leonard Lovejoy came from northern Illinois looking for a better country, and found Norton County the best in the west. He sold, farm Implements before Almena was located and Bloomington was the end of the Burlington road. He has been in the coal and feed business for the past 12 years. Always boosting, never knocking. It is men of the Lovejoy type who have made Almena and, Norton’ county what they are today. Mr. Lovejoy served one term as county commissioner. He is the father of Leonard Lovejoy, the present Republican nominee for sheriff. Of ‘Norton county.
- W. Davis came to Almena 13 years ago. He is in the Furniture business and has learned it from top to bottom. He is also a licensed undertaker.
- H. Grove, a typical western grain man, is the new manager of the Central Grain Company’s elevator. Before coming to Almena Mr. Grove had charge of an elevator at Pronoun. With the experience that he has had he id fully capable of handling this elevator which in the 35 years it has been built has had several different managers, all of whom are well remembered, and we know that Mr. Grove will keep this old elevator in the path of success.