Cuming City Township, Washington County, Nebraska

Cuming City Township is bounded on the north by Herman Township, on the east by the west shore of the Missouri River, on the south by Blair Township and on the west by Grant Township.

The streams of this part of Washington County include Stewart Creek, Lippincott Creek, the headwaters of Long and New York Creeks, and also Fox and McKinney Lakes.

The railway line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Company runs through this township from north to south with a station point at Tyson in section 15.

The Cameron Drainage Ditch courses its way through this part of the county, and finally empties into the Missouri east of Blair.

The population of Cuming City Township for three census periods, from 1890 to 1910, was as follows: In 1890 it was 665; in 1900 it was 638, and in 1910 it was 613, the late census is not yet completed for use.

Highland

Highland, a small station point on the railroad between Blair and Herman, originally known as Mead Station, in honor of Giles Mead, a large stock shipper from this place. The name was changed to Highland in September, 1881. The post office at Highland was named Giles and was established January 1, 1882; Giles Mead was first postmaster. For many years the place was noted for its brick industry and for the amount of wild hay pressing that was annually carried on.

Cuming City, Defunct

Concerning this "has been" village it was written by the author of the Nebraska State History in 1882, which is excellent authority, as follows:

"Cuming City was claimed by P. G. Cooper and 'two others' in September, 1854, but no settlement was effected until the next spring, when a site was mapped and surveyed, and named in honor of the then acting governor, Cuming. Cuming City, like many another western town, aimed high, but has failed to reach the coveted elevation. A ferry charter was granted P. G. Cooper in January, 1856, and in the same month the legislature incorporated Washington College, and located it at Cuming City, at the same time appointing a board of eight trustees consisting of the following distinguished gentlemen: B. R. Folsom, James C. Mitchell, T. B. Cuming, Mark W. Izzard, P. G. Cooper, William B. Hall, John C. Campbell, and J. B. Radford.

"In 1856 the Nebraska Pioneer was started, under the editorial management of a Mr. Dimmick, and in 1858 the Cuming City Star was started, and flourished for a while, conducted by L. M. Kline.

"Cuming City was frequently represented in the Territorial Legislature. In 1856, James S. Stewart, who was one of the earliest settlers, was chosen Representative. In 1857 Mr. Stewart was re-elected with P. G. Cooper, also of Cuming City, as colleague. In 1858 Mr. Cooper was re-elected, with L. M. Kline."

This was about as near a "paper town" as one could conceive of, its plat having been a part of a farm ever since the oldest settler can well remember its name and location.

Bell, in his Centennial History of this county speaks of Cuming as follows: Flattered and encouraged with the patronage of territorial officials, Cuming City soon became a place of importance and great future prospects. The inevitable ferry charter was granted to P. G. Cooper in January, 1856, by the Legislature, and the same months "Washington College" was incorporated and located at Cuming City, and the same act appointed a board of trustees consisting of such famous characters as B. R. Folsom, James Mitchell, T. B. Cuming, Mark W. Izzard, P. G. Cooper, William B. Hall, John C. Campbell and J. B. Radford.

In 1857 there were in Cuming City fifty-three dwelling houses, three stores, three hotels, besides several boarding houses and a number of saloons. At the annual election that year Cuming City was again honored by the selection of two of its prominent citizens as representatives:

James S. Stewart was re-elected with P. G. Cooper of Cuming City, and Alonzo Perkins, of De Soto as colleagues. The first Fourth of July celebration in the county was held at Cuming City on North Creek in 1860. Judge John S. Bowen was orator of the day.

Among the first settlers in Cuming City

Nebraska AHGP

History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, Rev. William H. Buss and Thomas T. Osterman, Volume 1, The American Historical Society, Chicago, 1921.

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