Jefferson County Nebraska History 1900 to 1910

1900
Fairbury Ironworks and Windmill Company files for incorporation (3)

Steele City Post office had been named Steelburg. (Corrected later)

1902

R.A Clapp elected mayor Fairbury.
The Rock Island Railroad paid the widow of W.O. Hambel $3,800 for the death of her husband in a wreck just south of Lincoln.(2)
Fairbury Light and Power files for incorporation. (3)
Fairbury Telephone Company files for incorporation (3)
A fire started at Butterbaugh's livery stable, Diller, causing $8,000 damage. (2)
Organization of a Commercial Club begins, later to become the Chamber of Commerce in Fairbury.(2)
JC McClay has taken charge of the Steele City Opera House as manager replacing Bert Grates. The first play under the new management will be "The Count of Monte Cristo". (2)
E.H, Hinshaw of Fairbury was nominated to Congress. (2)
Fairbury's fifth saloon licensed.
A wreck occured on the Rock Island near the farm of Jas. Quinn, killing a tramp stealing a ride. (2)
Fairbury Sewer Co. planning to expand north from Fifth Street. (2)
The Harbine Bank of Fairbury bought the Daykin Bank. Frank Denney succeeded F.B. Welton as cashier. (2)
The newspaper's name changed from Jefferson County to Fairbury Journal. (2)
Total rainfall for June at Fairbury had been over 12 1/2 inches, causing street and crop damage. (2)
Jefferson County commissioners discussing the possibility of a county fair.(2)
August, one afternoon performance only of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show. Train schedules will change to accomodate the attendees.(2)
The Fairbury Enterprise was merged with the Gazette, Cash Taylor assuming charge. Editor and publisher since 1870, George Cross retires.(2)
The Powell school had 59 pupils: C.W. Samms was principal and Tillie McClure primary teacher.(2)
Capt. J.W. Starr had shipped out a carload of apples from his orchard four miles southwest of Diller.(2)
Plans were being made to increase the Fairbury sewer system.(2)
The first picture show by a traveling firm at the Steele's opera house. Admission , adults 25 cents, children 15 cents(2)
Company D, Fairbury unit of the state national Guard was planning a New Year's Eve military ball.(2)
The first meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution was held (DAR). (2)

1903
April 25th- The entire section of the business area south of the downtown Fairbury square was destroyed by fire. The only remaining building was the old courthouse on the far west end. Now known as Griffey's Steakhouse. The fire started at the Newman and Bone's Lumberyard.
Strong winds fueled roof fires of other businesses and burned the Methodist Church and parsaonage located several blocks away.

In all 25 businesses, including the Opera House, Post Office, Fairbury Telephone and Central Office, J.C. Hartigan's Law Office, G.P. Weisel's Drug Store, McLaurin's Harness Shop, Harbine Bank, J.H. LeRoy's Jewelry and J.W. McDonnell's general merchandise store were destroyed. Estimated loss was $200,000. (2)
Honor pupils in District No.40 (4 and a half miles south and 1 and a half miles east of Fairbury) were Lee Brown, Stanley Jones, Annie Lenahan, and Ollie Shelburne, Clement Harriss was teacher.(2)
A telephone company was organized at Steele City.(2)
Charles Wyatt of Fairbury had been appointed deputy warden at the state penitentiary. Sheriff Ed Case appointed A.D. Hedges to succeed Wyatt as deputy sheriff. (2)

G.P. Weisel bought the lot just east of his former location on the south side and would erect a new brick building for his drugstore. Dr. H.L. Clarke and C.C. Morris bought the former Harbine Bank lot and would put a building on it. Rebuilding of the burned out south side of the Fairbury square was progressing rapidly.

Joe Sarbach retired from the clothing store firm of Uhley & Co. S.H. Diller became his partner.

Years later Diller became a partner of C.C. Howell Uhley & Diller then became Livingstone & Gates and then Richardson's, Fairbury.