Auburn rooted in friendship

AUBURN - Auburn Chamber Director Leslie Clark shared the story of how a friendship helped give the city of Auburn its start 140 years ago.

President Ulysses Grant appointed Church Howe a US marshal for the Wyoming Territory and on his trip west he purchased 480 acres of land in Nemaha County. He  returned there in 1871 to settle permanently.

In 1880, he formed a partnership with New York lawyer Charles Nixon to purchase land and lay out the town of Auburn.

Clark: “That’s why this theme of opportunity and friendship really permeates the history of Auburn. They purchased additional land, they secured the railroad running from Kansas City to Omaha, they helped merge the two towns. We were Calvert and Sheridan and they merged the two towns as one --  Auburn, Neb., named after Auburn, N.Y.”

Clark invited former Mayor Scott Kudrna to speak at Legion Park, where he read from the Bible’s book of James about civility.
Kudrna: “Brothers and sisters taken note of this, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because anger does not produce righteousness.”

Mayor Dan White said opportunity and friendship is still the heartbeat of Auburn today.

White: “It’s just a community where it’s so easy to make friends. Opportunity is what you make of it. You can make whatever you want in Auburn.”

 

Clark read from a letter written by Councilwoman Katy Billings.

Clark: “140 years ago Church Howe and Charles Nixon heard opportunity knocking and because they took that opportunity we are all gathered here today celebrating Auburn’s 140^th birthday.”

Along with the free cupcakes and live music there was opportunity for Pastor Kent Clark and Doctor Russel Crotty to raise their voices in celebration.