Oshkosh in Garden County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Oshkosh Land and Cattle Co. “Company Store”
| — | Old Town Historical Plaque | — |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 13, 2023
1. Oshkosh Land and Cattle Co. “Company Store” Marker
In 1885, five men from eastern Nebraska traveled to this area and established the Oshkosh Land and Cattle Co. These men were John Robinson, Henry Gumaer, Alfred Gumaer, Bert Potter and George Kendall. After several years of enduring freighting their needed supplies and mail from Chappell and Lodgepole, respectively, and with more new settlers rapidly moving in, the need for a larger stock of provisions was needed.
In 1889, a two-story company store was erected and the town of Oshkosh was established. This building was the first frame building in Oshkosh and is now (2011) 122 years old. At that time, it was a general merchandise store and contained the first Oshkosh Post Office. It also housed a drug store and an area for the Deuel County Bank. Up stairs was a printing office and hotel rooms. John Robinson was the first Postmaster and also managed the store.
A. Sudman and Co. purchased the store in 1894 and August Sudman became the second Postmaster and manager of the store. When A. Sudman and Co. bought the building, “Gus” Sudman lived in a room upstairs and when he married, the couple lived upstairs until he built a new
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In 1903, the old building was remodeled into a regular hotel, managed by Jake Miller. It is not known when Mr. Miller stopped managing the hotel.
Two brothers, Jerome and Clarence Stephenson, bought and managed the hotel from 1915 to 1921.
In 1922, Orva Saunders bought the building and he owned it until 1946 when he sold it to William C. Gammill. While Mr. Saunders had this building it had many different businesses within its walls. There was a creamery, a café, an artist's display store and many other types of businesses too numerous to mention.
This building has had quite a history of being a liquor store. Beginning in 1936 a Mr. Purdue had it. In 1942, Mr. Gammil was the owner. Later in 1944, Ace Stoller and his son-in-law owned the business. Ernie Kaschke had the business in 1964. When he died in 1973, his wife, Thelma, and her father George Roudebush were the owners. They sold to June Burke in 1976. In April 1979, Donald Brooks became the new owner. In 1980-1981
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 13, 2023
2. Oshkosh Land and Cattle Co. “Company Store” Marker
The marker is on the left side of the front entrance.
For a time, the building sat empty, occasionally using the upstairs for housing and the lower floor was rented for other businesses, such as Joyce Olson's “Antique Attic.” In 1993, when Joyce sold out her inventory, the building was sold to Barbara J. Webster from Lewellen and she ran a day care center. She had the day care center until she sold it to the present owner, Elizabeth “Beth” Fricke in 2005, who also runs a childcare center, “Kicks and Giggles.”
In 2010, the year of Garden County's Centennial Celebration, the building underwent an outside renovation and now sits on the corner looking bright and shiny to remind us of the men and women who came here with hopes and dreams of a better life and established the town of Oshkosh.
Erected 2014 by Old Town Project and 2010 Garden County Centennial Planning Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 41° 24.237′ N, 102° 20.673′ W.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 13, 2023
3. Oshkosh Land and Cattle Co. “Company Store” (southeast elevation)
Regionally, this marker is in the Nebraska Panhandle. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, on the Great Plains, and specifically on the High Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Garden County News (a few steps from this marker); Bar and Pool Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Nebraska State Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Williams Hotel and Original Garden County Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Morris Hotel (about 400 feet away); Original Campbell Drug (about 400 feet away); Consumers Public Power Building (about 500 feet away); Chase Hardware (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oshkosh.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 28, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
