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1918Due to the quarantine in Fairbury for scarlet fever, the Jefferson County Republican convention was advertised to be in Jansen. There had been three deaths in Fairbury from the epidemic, one a baby six days old.1927The Fairbury Gas Co., of which Ben G. Dawson was manager, was sold to an Iowa firm. It had made and sold artificial gas, used primarily for cooking, since 1908.A half-acre of strawberries of the Clark McCurdy farm near Steele City brought in $300.Wheat combines were first used in Jefferson County. According to the late J.L. London, at that time an implement dealer in Fairbury, the first users were Joe Brown, Fred Bussing and Ernest Kriesel. The machines, in one, operation, replaced the former cutting and bundling with a hinder, handsetting into shocks, and threshing, either from shocks in the field, or after still another operation, from stacks.1928The Union Pacific Railroad was surveying for new sidings and a depot in Fairbury.Frank Ellsworth was erecting three "tourist cabins" near his filling station at 14th and E streets. Each was to have a "gas stove, shower bath and several cots."1938Henry Wallace, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, announced a federal loan rate on wheat at 71 cents a bushel at Omaha for No. 1 hard wheat. In this county, yields of three to eight bushels per acre were common and quality low. Top yields reported were 20 to 25.The Jenkins Agency announced sales of Fairbury residence properties at prices ranging from $1,100 to $2,700.1948The Jansen Lumber Co. bought a tract at the northwest corner of 14th and K streets, Fairbury, which was to be the site of a farm implement agency managed by John Thiessen.The Fairbury Odd Fellows Lodge installed William Trefethen as noble grand, succeeding Reuben Zweifel. Frank Bevington was the new vice grand.Farm sales at "high prices" were reported, with the W. William Henske 160-acres 1'2 miles west of Jansen, to Jacob H. Friesen, at $156.25 per acre, and the G.R. Pemberton 154 acres 21 miles south and one west of Plymouth, to Carl Wollenberg, at $155.19 per acre.1958The Buckley Branch conservancy district in southwest Jefferson and southeastern Thayer counties was formally certified. It was one of the first such districts in the state.1959An article by John Nelson in The Fairbury Journal concerning the Rock Island railroad in Fairbury, compared the operations during the past 70 years. Ten years ago it was one of the largest operating industries in Fairbury as the Western division terminal on the Chicago to Denver run. In 1886 and 1887 the Rock Island surveyed two new rail lines running through Fairbury, making this the division point with a large roundhouse, yards and shops being built here. Passenger trains became fewer during the years. Steam was replaced by diesel fuel and the many freight trains carried about three or four times the amount of the old style, including the piggybacks.1969Bronze tablets tell the story of Whiskey Run station on the Oregon Trail. Nebraska Congressman Robert V. Denney made dedicatory remarks.1970American Legion Post #24 of Fairbury elected Pat Hutson commander.Total assessed value of all property in Jefferson County was estimated at $47,997,100, up about $750,000 from 1969, by Irene Hunsberger, County Assessor. This included personal and business property, motor vehicles and real estate.Brad Meyer and Becky Meyer won senior and junior division talent contests at the Daykin Picnic.1980Douglas M. Votipka, son of Charles M. Votipka of Alexandria, graduated from the Air Force Academy.St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Plymouth celebrated its centennial.Jennifer Webb retired, after helping her late husband, cemetery superintendent Leslie Webb, for over 50 years as keeper of the records of lot owners and burials.1990Stockholders of the Swanton Co-op and the Farmers Union Co-op Association of Jansen voted to consolidate the two businesses into one.

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