Our October meeting was very good. It is surprising all of the new items that appeared this year. Civil War documents and homestead papers, plus a timber culture deed. Even a special doll made her appearance. Purchased in Italy, by an Austrian, sent to USA, was given her naturalized status, and Marlene says she's international now. New computers appeared, some just getting a good start in their families. One attended an Estate auction in the Carolinas (happened to have a family tie) new ideas on tin types and reproducing a photo from them. Glass negatives were even discussed.

Historical Sketches of Giltner NE(Hamilton Co)
Lone Tree Iowa-Pioneers & Their Descendents 

 Twilight Memories of Martha Weitkamp-donated

Genealogist's Address Book, 4th Edition by Elizabeth
 Petty Bentley

Fremont Tribune 24 Nov 1900 5:6

The following letters remain uncalled for in the Fremont postoffice for the week ending Nov 21, 1900:

Allen, Miss Dessie
Arnold, Mrs Ella
Broders, Miss Marie
Ellsworth, Miss Jessie
St Clair, Miss Adele
Welden, Mary
Wilcox, Mrs America
Woodrow, Mrs H L

Lehman, George Christian
Love, Willoghby
Martins, Hinrich
Nofield, Mary

Persons calling for the above will please say "advertised."

We welcome you!

From Schuyler to St Louis in a houseboat is the program which Clinton Booth and family, late of Schuyler, have mapped out for themselves, as they reported to Fremonters while tied up here for repairs to their strange little craft over the weekend, their houseboat having got somewhat damaged in a collision with one of the piers of the North Bend bridge when they passed under that structure on their way down river to this city.

The Booths are former Missourians, and, though they have been residents of the Colfax county seat throughout the past fifteen years, their hearts have yearned back toward their more southerly home. Accordingly, the novel plan of floating back down there over the Platte and Missouri rivers in a houseboat occurred to them, whereupon Mr Booth fashioned his boat, just as Noah did the ark, and Into it he loaded his little family of wife and three small children, and his earthly possessions and away they started on an inexpensive voyage homeward.

The little craft Is a crude affair, consisting of a box-like cabin built upon a flat-bottomed scow, the cabin not exceeding twelve by six feet in dimensions. The swift current of the river Is the only motive power had and the skipper steers his rudderless craft by means of a single oar. When he gets into the deeper water of the Missouri, however, Mr Booth said, he would add a rudder to his little boat.

On yesterday evening the Occidental was opened and the guests, of which there are already many, partook of the first meal cooked and served in the hotel. On Thanksgiving night a grand ball and supper will be given in this house by the proprietor. Ticking including supper, will be $2.00. The parlors will be used for dancing and will furnish dancing room for six sets. This will be a grand affair.
Mr Parcel is doing a good thing for us all in opening the Occidental, and is, we hope, doing a good thing for himself.

On Saturday night or Sunday morning, the alarm of fire aroused every citizen. The fire was found to be back of Sievers' meat market, originating in a hay stack and old barn. The night was unusually stiff, and further advances of the fire were quelled.

On Wednesday morning about 1 o'clock, Fremont's fire alarm again sounded. This time the fire was found to be in a small wagon shop back of the court house. Directly north of the wagon shop was the blacksmith shop of Bellows & Crow; east of that was the truck house of the Frontier Hook & Ladders Company, and east thereof is the city hall and engine house. A strong breeze from the southwest fanned the flames, and the fire was not under control until the blacksmith shop, wagon shop and truck house were destroyed. The city hall was somewhat damaged on the west side.
Too much praise cannot be given to our gallant firemen. They fought with resolution and vigor and effectively they fought may be known by the fact that the court house, Blanchard & Barnard's hardware store, and other business houses are still standing. Our engine, and our fire companies since their organization, have repaid more than ten-fold the amount of money ever expended on them.
As to the origin of these fires, many suppositions are rife. The "drunken man with a pipe" story is getting rather stale and old, and is getting rather beyond our believing capacity. That "drunken man with a pipe" is undoubtedly some sane man with a match and petroleum. Gregg was the first one at the fire on Wednesday morning and claims to have run a man for some distance, who had leaped from Tappan's wagon shop upon his (Gregg's) approach. The man got away. The loss on Wednesday morning will probably be covered by $1,500.

 Fremont Tribune 6 Nov 1874 3:2 and on 13 Nov 1874 3:3 

On Sunday night another fire was discovered in an unoccupied building on Broad street. It was extinguished before any damage was done. Old rags saturated with kerosene were found on the floor showing beyond a doubt that it was no accident, but the work of the incendiary. Hanging would be too good. 

I believe that we have had such a good response because of the actions of a couple of super volunteers who serve as wonderful examples to us all. Whether you are a local ENGS member, a distant member, or just reading this column on the web, you know that I am referring to Claire Mares and Margie Sobotka.If you have done research on ancestors who passed through Dodge County, NE or have Czech roots, you have consulted records compiled by one of these fine ladies. The hours, days, months,…years of time that they have volunteered to walk and record cemeteries, transcribe records from microfilm, old dusty books, and crumbling newspapers, translate records, and compile it all into a form that can be made available to anyone is only matched by the time they have both spent patiently teaching others how to use the available resources to do their own research. Now,they have both offered a wealth of material to be made available on the web. It doesn’t stop there…both of them have also volunteered to type and proof read to prepare this information for presentation on the web. Claire regularly opens her home for ENGS meetings, houses the society library and answers the many research requests that come to the society. Margie provides storage for the originals and houses multiple copies of the books the society sells.