About Ashton Flats mentioned in Kim's note about the Straubs: I remember Rich telling about Ashton's Ranch. (It was operating big when he was a kid in Haigler) Isn't that where Lawrence Beeson worked for years and years and then had that heart attack and the boys (Norman and Marvin or Butch) did the feeding. Then the Beesons moved into Haigler. Some blog reader will surely know something about Tom Ashton and the ranch.
Also, there were lots of apple orchards west of Haigler. We (Crabtrees) would go out there to pick apples and get them for a low price.
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Reference to Aston's is made in a note written by Jimmy M. Morris found in Leona McAllister's book, "History of Dundy County." This whole book can be found online at the Dundy County GenWeb site. Click here
--Thanks to Kent Hoffman for the link.
AS I REMEMBER, THE ASHTON RANCH WAS RIGHT AT THE NE. AND CO. STATE LINE. SEVEN MILES WEST OF HAIGLER.
ReplyDeleteLAWRENCE BEESON WORKED AT THE HAIGLER RANCH ABOUT ONE MILE WEST OF HAIGLER. THE TWO BIG WHITE PILLARS OFF THE HYWAY IS THE ENTRANCE TO THE HAIGLER RANCH.
DALLAS
MY DAD WAS BORN IN 1891, DUE TO A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DURING A WINTER STORM, HIS PARENTS DIVORCED AND DAD WORKED AT THE ASHTON RANCH--I THINK HE WAS 9 YRS OLD AT THAT TIME. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WAS OVER 107 YEARS AGO.
ReplyDeleteDALLAS
There is a reference to Tom Ashton and The Ashton Ranch at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/county/dundy/lmca/book005.htm
Didn't Bill Brown, the former County Commissioner, have a ranch right near there?
YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT BILL BROWN, BUT I DONT KNOW THE PROPERTY LINES WHERE THEY EXISTED. THERE WAS A BIG LOADING DOCK FOR SUGAR BEETS TO BE LOADED ONTO RAILROAD CARS.
ReplyDeleteDALLAS
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ReplyDeleteThat's right, Dallas. The loading docks were a landmark for me to know where to turn in to Bill's place.
ReplyDeleteKent Hoffman
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ReplyDeleteA further bit of research has uncovered information that in 1913 Thomas Ashton was President of the State Bank of Haigler. Go to the following link and scroll down to "Haigler":
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state1/banks/banks2.htm
Is that the Ashton Ranch Ashton?
I remember the bank building on the west side of Porter Ave about 3/4 of a block north of US 34. It was no longer a bank. I do not recall that it was being used for anything in the late 40's. Is it still standing?
Kent Hoffman
San Antonio
According to the book "The Call of the Range, NEBRASKA: History of Its Cattle Industry and the Trials and Triumphs of Its Pioneers" by Nellie Snyder Yost, Written for the Nebraska Stock Growers Association, page 107, Jake Haigler sold his ranch to Tom Ashton in about 1880 before leaving for Arizona. So, if that is true, the Haigler Ranch was part of the Ashton Ranch at one time.
ReplyDeleteSee quotation: http://haigler.blogspot.com/2006/09/call-of-range.html
ANOTHER MESSAGE I LEFT DIDNT TAKE.
ReplyDeleteMY ERA OF TIME IS WHEN CHARLES LOCKRIDGE WAS PROPRIETER OF THE HAIGLER RANCH AND LAWRENCE BEESON WAS HIS FOREMAN. I DONT KNOW ABOUT EARLIER WHO OWNERSHIP WAS??? THIS WAS IN THE LATE 40'S & 59'S
DALLAS
I believe that the bank building that is in the block north of the highway is now the post office.
ReplyDeleteTHAT BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE POST OFFICE, HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SAFE'S THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE IS STILL THERE, TO BIG AND HEAVY TO MOVE. THAT IS PROBABLY THE BANK SAFE FROM YEARS AGO.
ReplyDeleteDALLAS
The last time I was in the Haigler post office, it was located on the southwest corner of the US 34 and Porter intersection. Belle McGregor (I think her last name was) was the postmistress.
ReplyDeleteI was in Haigler after she left the position, but I was not in the P.O. after that.
Kent