Nowlan-Dietrich House
1105 N. Kansas Ave., Hastings, NEThe historical significance of this house is derived from its association with Charles Henry Dietrich, Governor of Nebraska, U.S. Senator, and Hastings banker; and its association with his wife, Margretta Shaw Stewart Dietrich, prominent in the state suffragette movement and in a number of campaigns and organizations for women's and children's rights. The house was their home throughout their marriage; he purchased and remodeled it for his bride in 1909 and they resided there until his death in 1924. The residence's exterior retains with few exceptions the appearance and elements of the Dietrich period of occupation.
C. H. Dietrich (1853-1924) was born in Aurora, Illinois, to German immigrant parents who fled the country because of his father's socialist opinions. In the adventurous spirit, he was to continue all his life, Dietrich ran away from home at the age of ten, returning after a year to complete a final year of school before leaving again to support himself at various jobs in Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, San Antonio, St. Joseph, and the Black Hills. In 1878 he married Elizabeth Slaker of Aurora, Illinois, and moved permanently to Hastings where he was a partner in a general merchandising store and then a hardware store before organizing the very successful loan and insurance office of Dietrich & Slaker in 1881. He assisted in establishing the German National Bank in 1887 and served as its president until 1905. Dietrich was active in the commercial and agricultural development of Hastings and Adams County as president of the Board of Trade and promoter for the Northwestern and Missouri Pacific railroads to build through the town. He was one of the first to experiment with the growing of timothy, clover, alfalfa, and sugar beets in the county.
A personal tragedy occurred in 1887 with the death of his young wife and baby. His daughter, Gertrude, was educated in European boarding schools and at Bryn Mawr College. He consequently lived in hotels and lodgings and there is no known residence associated with him from the early period of his life.
Dietrich's political career, although brief and turbulent, was not without its effect on Nebraskans. His first candidacy was the bitterly-contested governor's race of 1900, in which he defeated the incumbent by 861 votes. In the shortest governorship in Nebraska history (Jan. 3 - May 1, 1901), he resigned after being appointed by the Nebraska Senate to fill an unexpired term in the U.S. Senate. His achievements there included support of the famous Kinkaid Act (see Moses P. Kinkaid Building, O'Neill, NRHP); the sponsorship of the Newland Reclamation Act for irrigation projects; and promotion of the American sugar beet industry. A well-timed smear campaign cost him the nomination of his party for re-election and he returned to Hastings.
Local significance of the building:
C. H. Dietrich (1853-1924) was born in Aurora, Illinois, to German immigrant parents who fled the country because of his father's socialist opinions. In the adventurous spirit, he was to continue all his life, Dietrich ran away from home at the age of ten, returning after a year to complete a final year of school before leaving again to support himself at various jobs in Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, San Antonio, St. Joseph, and the Black Hills. In 1878 he married Elizabeth Slaker of Aurora, Illinois, and moved permanently to Hastings where he was a partner in a general merchandising store and then a hardware store before organizing the very successful loan and insurance office of Dietrich & Slaker in 1881. He assisted in establishing the German National Bank in 1887 and served as its president until 1905. Dietrich was active in the commercial and agricultural development of Hastings and Adams County as president of the Board of Trade and promoter for the Northwestern and Missouri Pacific railroads to build through the town. He was one of the first to experiment with the growing of timothy, clover, alfalfa, and sugar beets in the county.
A personal tragedy occurred in 1887 with the death of his young wife and baby. His daughter, Gertrude, was educated in European boarding schools and at Bryn Mawr College. He consequently lived in hotels and lodgings and there is no known residence associated with him from the early period of his life.
Dietrich's political career, although brief and turbulent, was not without its effect on Nebraskans. His first candidacy was the bitterly-contested governor's race of 1900, in which he defeated the incumbent by 861 votes. In the shortest governorship in Nebraska history (Jan. 3 - May 1, 1901), he resigned after being appointed by the Nebraska Senate to fill an unexpired term in the U.S. Senate. His achievements there included support of the famous Kinkaid Act (see Moses P. Kinkaid Building, O'Neill, NRHP); the sponsorship of the Newland Reclamation Act for irrigation projects; and promotion of the American sugar beet industry. A well-timed smear campaign cost him the nomination of his party for re-election and he returned to Hastings.
Commerce; Politics/government; Social History
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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Nebraska's state motto is "Equality before the law."
About Adams County
Adams County Timeline
Adams County, Nebraska, has a rich history dating back to its early settlement in the mid-19th century. The area was originally inhabited by indigenous tribes such as the Pawnee and Otoe-Missouria, who relied on the fertile land for agriculture and hunting. In the 1850s, European settlers began arriving, attracted by the promise of land and opportunities for farming.
The county was officially established on July 19, 1867, following the Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged settlement in the west. It was named in honor of John Adams, the second President of the United States. The first recorded settlement in the county was made in 1863 by William McPherson and his family.
During this time, agriculture was the primary industry in Adams County, and settlers focused on establishing prosperous farms. The county's fertile soil and favorable climate made it an ideal location for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. The arrival of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in 1872 further facilitated the growth of agriculture and connected the county to national markets.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the county's population continued to grow steadily. Towns such as Hastings, the county seat, saw the development of schools, churches, and businesses, becoming vibrant communities. The county also witnessed advancements in transportation infrastructure, with the construction of paved roads and the implementation of the Lincoln Highway, one of the country's earliest transcontinental highways, in the early 20th century.
Today, Adams County continues to thrive as an agricultural powerhouse, with farming and agribusiness remaining vital to its economy. The county also boasts a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, education, and services. With a strong sense of community and a rich heritage, Adams County holds a unique place in Nebraska's history and continues to grow and evolve in the 21st century.
The county was officially established on July 19, 1867, following the Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged settlement in the west. It was named in honor of John Adams, the second President of the United States. The first recorded settlement in the county was made in 1863 by William McPherson and his family.
During this time, agriculture was the primary industry in Adams County, and settlers focused on establishing prosperous farms. The county's fertile soil and favorable climate made it an ideal location for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. The arrival of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in 1872 further facilitated the growth of agriculture and connected the county to national markets.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the county's population continued to grow steadily. Towns such as Hastings, the county seat, saw the development of schools, churches, and businesses, becoming vibrant communities. The county also witnessed advancements in transportation infrastructure, with the construction of paved roads and the implementation of the Lincoln Highway, one of the country's earliest transcontinental highways, in the early 20th century.
Today, Adams County continues to thrive as an agricultural powerhouse, with farming and agribusiness remaining vital to its economy. The county also boasts a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, education, and services. With a strong sense of community and a rich heritage, Adams County holds a unique place in Nebraska's history and continues to grow and evolve in the 21st century.
Adams County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Adams County, Nebraska.
- 1866 - Adams County is established.
- 1872 - The first post office is established in the county.
- 1873 - The county seat is established in the town of Hastings.
- 1880 - The population of Adams County reaches over 14,000.
- 1916 - The Adams County courthouse is built in Hastings.
- 1950 - The population of Adams County peaks at over 30,000.
- 1975 - The Adams County Historical Society is formed.
- 1995 - The Adams County Fairgrounds are renovated and expanded.
- 2010 - Adams County celebrates its 150th anniversary.