Gage County Firsts

One of the first cattle drives from Texas entered Nebraska through Gage County. After the Civil War the long horn cattle were driven north to the Indian Reservations to fill government contracts. They were fattening in the fertile valley of the Big Blue River.

Texas cattle arrive in Beatrice in the summers of 1866 and 1867. In 1872 G.T. Loomis and James Marsh bought 460 Texas cattle to winter on their farms nears Beatrice. From the Beatrice Express dated August 8m, 1873: A herd of about 900 Texas cattle, belonging to J.M.Coon, Bagdad, Texas, arrived here a few days ago and are now feeding on the prairie west of the city. Canfield’s herds of 2,200 are expected Wednesday evening. Another herd belonging to Mr. Mill is expected daily and Burnham will also be along in a few days with about 3,000. 

The cattle being driven through town became such a problem that in 1871 the city passed a law prohibiting cattle drives through the city.

Wild Bill Hickok began his notorious career at Rock Creek Station near Fairbury, when he killed thee men. The trial was held at “Pap” Towle’s cabin in Beatrice. Hickok was an acquitted because the only witness was a fourteen-year-old boy, too young to testify.

H.M. Hepperlen opened First Hospital in Beatrice in 1899. His hospital specialized in women’s diseases.

The first capital in Lincoln was built of limestone from a quarry south of Beatrice.

Beatrice had the first Christian Scientist Church west of the Missouri River in 1888. It was reader and student E.M. Buswell that was accused of practicing medicine without a license in the state of Nebraska and in 1893 the fight went all the way to Supreme Court with victory for the Christian Science movement.    

L.C. Parker and Clyde Hale constructed the first electric car manufactured west of New York in Beatrice in 1898-1901. The complete construction was done here with the exception of the wheels and motor. Mr. Hale was an expert electrician. Lou When did the framework and the Randall brother did the painting

Dr C.P Fall was the first Nebraska physician to experiment with the Roentgen Ray and helped to contract the first x-ray machine in Nebraska.  In 1897 Hepperlen, Fall, Dr Rush and Mr Cady are in the photograph.

 The Kilpatrick Brothers were so impressed with the x-ray machine that they had one shipped to Beatrice from Chicago for his personal Dr Robinson to use. Not only for him but for anyone else that might need it.

C.B. Palmer first published “Nebraska Teacher” in Beatrice between 1872 and 1874.

In 1873 the first Nebraska Press Association started in Beatrice.

 Gage County was the first to have rural electrification in Nebraska.

  Beatrice had the first direct dial in Nebraska in 1957.