Congregational Nebraska, Part 1

Author: Bullock, Motier Acklin, 1851-1924
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb. : The Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 398


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GENEALOGY COLLECTION


REV. REUBEN GAYLORD First Congregational pastor in Nebraska


CONGREGATIONAL C


NEBRASKA


-


BY


MOTIER A. BULLOCK


1


CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER


LINCOLN : THE WESTERN PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY


1905


COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY THE WESTERN PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY


PRE68 OF JACOB NORTH & CO. LINCOLN, NEB.


10/30/64


Barriera - $ 12,50


1272748


DEDICATION


To my beloved wife, who, for more than twenty-five years, has shared with me the joys and trials of a minister's life,


this book is affectionately inscribed by the author.


PREFACE


In preparing this little book to celebrate the jubilee of Nebraska Congregationalism, the work continued to grow from a brief sketch to the present treatise. The range of study was larger than anticipated ; the sources yielded larger results ; the plan of work was radically changed ; and so a jubilee volume was undertaken.


The success of my work I must leave the indulgent reader to determine. No one is more conscious of its imperfections than am I, but at the same time I am confident that there are some things in this volume that will be of interest to the churches, for many friends have kindly responded to the appeal for information and help, and what they have written has added much to the value of the book. The interest they have taken in my effort and the help they have rendered are highly appreciated; and to them individually due credit is given in connection with their contribution.


It has been my aim not to give a history of individual churches, but rather the historic development of a great denomination ; and so I have used the Minutes of the Gen- eral Association as the basis of that development. I have received much valuable help from Prof. A. B. Show's thor- ough work on Congregational Schools published in Cald- well's History of Education in Nebraska; the "Life and Labors of Reuben Gaylord"; and other sources of infor- mation which have been placed within my reach. In refer- ence to the pictures of workers in the state, I have been fortunate in securing the photographs of some of the early pioneer fathers whose faces all will be glad to see on the printed page. I have failed to secure some that I especially desired to have. Some I was unable to find; others were


V


vi


PREFACE


too feeble to sit for a photograph and had none which they could send.


The Western Publishing and Engraving Co., which is publishing the Morton Illustrated History of Nebraska, printed by Jacob North & Co., has added several illustrations of Nebraska and Nebraska pioneers which have increased the attractiveness and value of the book. These illustrations could not otherwise have been obtained. I count myself happy and the public fortunate in the choice of publishers.


With the exception of the Moderators of the General Association, and members of the Advisory Board, which is entering so largely in the development of modern Congre- gationalism in the state, I have asked no one resident in Nebraska for his picture, unless he had been twenty-five years in service in the state. If any other pictures have been introduced it is through the courtesy of the publishers. I may have overlooked some of the pioneers who should have had a place in the book ; if so, it was not intentional on my part but due rather to my lack of familiarity with the per- sonnel of the pioneer fathers, especially the laymen.


I wish here, for valuable services rendered, to extend my thanks to Rev. G. G. Rice of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Rev. A. L. Riggs, D.D., of Santee, Nebraska; Mrs. A. N. God- dard of Connecticut ; Mrs. E. G. Platt of Ohio; Rev. A. F. Sherrill, D.D., of Massachusetts; Rev. C. W. Merrill and Rev. John L. Maile of California ; Rev. A. A. Cressman of Iowa ; Rev. G. W. Mitchell of Clarks ; Supt. Harmon Bross, D.D., Mrs. H. Bross, Rev. Lewis Gregory, and Editor H. A. French of Lincoln ; Mr. C. S. Paine of the Morton Illus- trated History of Nebraska; Pres. D. B. Perry, D.D., and Rev. Laura H. Wild of Doane College; Dr. George L. Miller of Omaha ; Col. S. S. Cotton of Norfolk; Supt. J. D. Stewart of the Congregational Sunday School and Publish- ing Society; Rev. Charles G. Bisbee of Arlington; Rev. C.


vii


PREFACE


S. Harrison of York; Rev. John Gray of Basin; Rev. W. S. Hampton of Dodge; Rev. George E. Taylor of Pierce; Rev. A. E. Ricker of Aurora; Rev. George Scott, D.D., of Wisner ; the scribes of the local associations who furnished valuable data not found in the state minutes, and, last but not least, to Rev. and Mrs. J. E. Storm of Lincoln, who prepared the major part of the tables in Part III, which are of especial value for reference.


These friends have contributed in no small degree to the value of this book, and if it is acceptable to the Congrega- tionalists in the state much of the credit is due them. Hoping that Congregational Nebraska may have a mission for good in the state, it is now given the general public.


MOTIER A. BULLOCK.


Lincoln, October 1, 1905.


CONTENTS


PAGE


Preface


.


V


Introduction 3


PART I-DEVELOPMENT OF CHURCH LIFE


CHAPTER I


The field


9


CHAPTER II


Congregational pioneers 13


Gov. Richardson . I3


Dr. Geo. L. Miller I3


Rev. G. G. Rice


I5


Reuben Gaylord 16-18


The Congregational Association of Iowa 19


CHAPTER III


Development of Church life 20


Historic date 2I


Temperance work


23


The Fremont Church


23


CHAPTER IV


The State Association of Congregational Churches in Nebraska 25


CHAPTER V


Some discouragements


.


28


CHAPTER VI


Early declarations


30


ix


X


CONTENTS


CHAPTER VII


A new era in Church development 34


Railroad extension 34


New towns and churches . 35


CHAPTER VIII


Gaylord as Home Missionary Superintendent ·


36


First visit of National Secretary A. H. M. S. . 37


The American S. S. Union 37


Memorial to Pres. U. S. Grant, in behalf of Ne- braska Indians 38


The Pawnee Indians


·


43


CIIAPTER IX


Removal of the capital 46


Mr. Gaylord's report 46


The Fremont Church 47


CHAPTER X


Rev. O. W. Merrill, Superintendent


48


Father Gaylord 48


The prayer-meeting . 50


The Pilgrim's idea and practice 50


Amos Dresser . 5I


Supt. Merrill's report 52


Rev. J. B. Chase as acting superintendent 53


Organization of woman's work 53


CHAPTER XI


Rev. H. N. Gates, Superintendent 54


The ravages of locusts 56


Rev. Lewis Gregory


.


57


xi


CONTENTS


CHAPTER XII


Sunday school development 58


Letter from Superintendent Stewart 58


Translation of Reuben Gaylord 60


Letter from Mrs. A. N. Goddard . 62


CHAPTER XIII


Rev. C. W. Merrill, Superintendent . 63


Modern development of Congregationalism 63


Nebraska Congregational News . 65 . Organization Nebraska Home Missionary Society 65


Superintendent Merrill's report 67


The Nebraska Sunday School Assembly 68


The German work 68


Letter from Rev. C. W. Merrill . 68


CHAPTER XIV


Rev. J. L. Maile, Superintendent 7I


Rev. H. Bross, General Missionary 71


Church activity 73


Church polity


73


Letter from Dr. A. F. Sherrill 74


Letter from Rev. J. L. Maile 75


CHAPTER XV


Rev. Harmon Bross, D.D., Superintendent 81


Letter from Dr. Bross . 81


Reports from Superintendents Bross and Stewart, 85, 86 The frontier 86 .


Revs. G. J. Powell and George E. Taylor appointed General Missionaries 87


The drouth 87


The translation of Isaac E. Heaton 88


A typical meeting 90


The second drouth . 91


Dr. Crofts on the watch tower .


.


92


xii


CONTENTS


CHAPTER XVI


Recent declarations .


94


Army chaplains .


94


The Crete assembly . 95


Divorce and desertion 96


Polygamy 97


The New Jersey Plan of Union 98


Dr. A. H. Bradford's letter 98


The National Council (1904) on church union 99


Obstacles in the way . 99 The Geneva meeting and church union . IO0


Other declarations 100-102


CHAPTER XVII


Centralization IO3


The State Advisory Board 104


The Nebraska Idea IO7


The ecclesiastical standing of churches and ministers 107


Evangelism . 109


CHAPTER XVIII


The outlook IIO


The Lincoln convocation II2


The incorporation of the Nebraska Home Missionary Society 115


The responsibility of the churches II6


CHAPTER XIX


Phases of Church growth II7


Congregationalism in Lincoln, Rev. Lewis Gregory II8


The growth of churches I2I


The German work in Lincoln and in the state I22


The German Pro-Seminary 123


Congregationalism in the Elkhorn valley-


Col. S. S. Cotton 124


X111


CONTENTS


Congregationalism in the Republican valley-


Rev. W. S. Hampton I34


Rev. Geo. E. Taylor I34


Congregationalism in western Nebraska ---


Rev. A. E. Ricker 143.


Ogalalla, Nebraska I44


Julesburg, Colorado I45


CHAPTER XX


Pioneer experiences 147


Mrs. E. G. Platt, missionary teacher among the Paw- nee Indians I47


Rev. C. S. Harrison I54


The liquor war 156


Rev. A. A. Cressman 158


Dr. George Scott 16I


Rev. John Gray 164


Rev. A. E. Ricker 169


"Father Barrow's Story"-Rev. J. E. Storm 188


CHAPTER XXI


Woman's work in Nebraska,


Rev. Laura H. Wild I9I


List of presidents and secretaries, Mrs. H. Bross 196


PART II-CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOLS IN NEBRASKA


CHAPTER I


The Fontanelle school 201


Letter from C. G. Bisbee 206


Causes operating against Fontanelle 207 Discussion of new location for a Congregational school 209 College located at Crete 2II


The end of the Fontanelle school 212


xiv


CONTENTS


CHAPTER II


Doane College 213


Dr. Willard Scott's address at the fifteenth anniversary 213


Founding of Crete Academy ·


215


The founding of Doane College 216


Financial struggle 218


Thomas Doane


219


The Head of the college


226


The deliberation of the trustees 23I


Foreign population 232


President Perry's reports


233


CHAPTER III


Education in the state 237


The attitude of the General Association 238


The minute of Chancellor Manatt 238


The Pro-Seminary at Crete 239


A Committee on Education 240


CHAPTER IV


The college question 241


Gates College 24I


Vote to recognize defeated 242


Dr. Duryea's resolution 243


Proposed consolidation of Doane and Gates 243


An educational commission 244


The attitude of Doane College 244


Trouble at Gates College 245 .


A third school-"Norfolk College" 245


Gates becomes an academy 245


Results of the controversy 245


The standing of Doane College 246


Attitude of the churches 248


.


CONTENTS


XV


CHAPTER V


Congregational academies in Nebraska, Rev. G. W. Mitchell


.


254


CHAPTER VI


A comparative study


259


CHAPTER VII


Santee Normal Training School 265


Character of the training 265


Pupils in the school


270


The Riggs family


27I


Artemas Ehnamani 272


The oversight of the Santee school


275


Missionaries at Santee


·


275


PART III


TABLES I


Sessions of the General Association


280


II


Superintendents of home missions


.


.


28I


III


Corporate members of the American Board


.


.


281


IV


On the foreign field


282


.


V


Delegates to the National Council


.


·


283


VI


List of churches dropped


·


VII


.


.


.


286


Land grants. .


.


.


.


290


xvi


CONTENTS


VIII


Pastorates in living churches . 298


IX


Alphabetical list of ministers


323


ILLUSTRATIONS


Rev. Reuben Gaylord frontispiece .


Pit-a-le-shar-u, head chief of the Fawnees 4


Samuel Allis 6


Omaha in 1870 IO


Modern Omaha


11


First territorial capitol building I2


Origen D. Richardson


1.4


Rev. George G. Rice


I5


Omaha in 1854


19


First Congregational Church, Omaha, 1855 21


First Congregational Church, Omaha, 1905


22


Rev. Isaac E. Heaton


23


Mrs. Isaac E. Heaton


2.


Rev. Silas J. Francis


25


E. H. Barnard


26


Site of "Nebraska University," Fontanelle, 1905 28


Bellevue, Nebraska, 1856


32


Rev. A. F. Sherrill, D.D. 36


Some prominent laymen 40


Dr. Geo. L. Miller


Hon. H. H. Shedd


Deacon Geo. T. Lee


Deacon Geo. S. Harris


Sioux chief, Spotted Tail 42


44


A section of modern Lincoln


45


Rev. O. W. Merrill


49


Rev. Amos Dresser


51


Rev. H. N. Gates .


55


Grasshopper scene, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 1876


.


56


xvii


Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1870


xviii


ILLUSTRATIONS


Rev. J. D. Stewart 59


Sunday school, Greeley county, Nebraska, photo fur- nished by W. H. Kimberly, Lincoln, Nebraska, State Sunday School Superintendent American Sunday School Union 61


Rev. C. W. Merrill 64


Rev. H. A. French and the Nebraska Congregational News 66


Rev. John L. Maile, M.A. 72


Rev. Harmon Bross. D.D. 82


Group of portraits 89


Rev. S. N. Grout


Rev. W. P. Bennett


Rev. William Leavitt


Rev. D. Diffenbacher


Members of the Advisory Board 108


H. C. Herring, D.D., Chairman


Rev. G. W. Mitchell


J. W. Cowan, D.D. Rev. V. F. Clark


C. B. Anderson, Crete III


Falls of the North Loup river II4


Rev. Charles Little II7


First Congregational Church, Lincoln, 1868 II8


First Congregational Church, Lincoln, 1905 119


Rev. Lewis Gregory I20


Rev. William Suess, Crete 123


Col. S. S. Cotton 125


Col. Charles Mathewson I26


Group of portraits 127


George Scott, D.D.


Rev. J. W. Kidder


Rev. M. B. Harrison


Rev. George E. Taylor


xix


ILLUSTRATIONS


Group of portraits


138


Rev. W. S. Hampton


Rev. R. S. Pierce


Principal A. C. Hart Principal F. C. Taylor


Rev. Henry Bates I37


Rev. S. C. Dean I39


Mrs. E. G. Platt


148


Pawnee Indian village, 1854, from a drawing by Geo. Simons 150


Rev. C. S. Harrison


154


Rev. A. A. Cressman 159


Group of portraits 165 .


Rev. John Gray


Rev. J. E. Stormn


Rev. George E. Hall


Rev. G. W. Wainwright


Group of portraits .


.


171


Rev. S. I. Hanford


Rev. W. J. Turner


Rev. John Doane


Rev. A. E. Ricker


Rev. E. Cressman


North Face of Pine Ridge 174


Industrial scene on the Union Pacific railroad 180


Toadstool Park, Sioux county Bad Lands, on Burling- ton and Missouri river railroad .


184


Western Nebraska under irrigation on Union Pacific railroad . 187


Logan Fontenelle, Omaha Indian chief 202


Rev. C. G. Bisbee, Arlington 206


University of Nebraska 208


Doane College, Crete 214


ILLUSTRATIONS


Group of portraits . 217 .


Prof. A. B. Fairchild


Prof. J. S. Brown


Prof. G. D. Swezey John L. Tidball


Colonel Thomas, Doane 221


President D. B. Perry, D.D. 228


Chancellor E. B. Fairfield, D.D. 235


Chancellor I. J. Manatt, D.D., LL.D. 237


Franklin Academy 255


Gates Academy 257


Weeping Water Academy 260


Chadron Academy 262


Santee Normal Indian Training School 266


Rev. A. L. Riggs, D.D.


267


High school pupils, Santee Indian Training School 268


Group of Omaha Indians 269


Rev. Artemas Ehnamani 272


PART I


DEVELOPMENT OF CHURCH LIFE


INTRODUCTION


In writing a jubilee volume commemorating the work of Congregationalists in Nebraska the question arises, Where shall we drive the first historic peg? Shall it be at the or- ganization of the General Association of Congregational Churches of Nebraska, the coming of Reuben Gaylord, the beginning of organized work in Omaha, or the advent of Congregationalists in the territory who were here ready to welcome the missionary when he came?


Gov. O. D. Richardson came to Omaha from Michigan in September, 1854. It was he who persuaded Rev. Reuben Gaylord to come to the territory, or at least "gave him his call." Congregationalists were in the territory at that time. If we drive a peg here our jubilee year is passed. It was also as early as September, 1854, that Rev. G. G. Rice se- cured lots for the expected Congregational Church in Omaha.


In January, 1855, Mr. Rice preached the first Congrega- tional sermon in Omaha, and in December, 1855, Rev. Reuben Gaylord began his work; 1905 may well, then, be taken as the jubilee year of Congregational Nebraska.


May 4, 1856, the First Church, Omaha, was organized ; 1906 will then be a jubilee year for Omaha. August 8, 1857, the General Association of Congregational Churches in Nebraska was organized; 1907 will be another jubilee year. And so it would seem our jubilee time of rejoicing and planning for larger things extends over a period of several years.


We, however, make a mistake if we think that the first missionary work in Nebraska was as late as 1854-55. As early as 1843 Mrs. E. G. Platt, whose interesting letter will


3


PIT-A-LE-SHAR-U Head Chief of the Pawnees


5


INTRODUCTION


be found in the chapter on Pioneer Experiences, began work as a teacher among the Pawnee Indians in Nebraska. But she says she was invited to come by missionaries of the American Board. Who were they, and when did they come to Nebraska? Inquiry at the rooms of the A. B. C. F. M. in Boston brought the following interesting information :


The American Board sent as missionaries to thie Pawnee Indians in the Nebraska country in 1834:


"Rev. John Dunbar, who was born in Palmer, Massa- chusetts, March 4, 1804 ; a graduate of Williams College in 1832, and Auburn Seminary in 1854; ordained Ithaca, New York, May I, 1834, and set out from Ithaca, May 5, 1834, for Nebraska. He arrived at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, June 26, and at Bellevue, near Council Bluff, the following October.


"The Chief of the Grand Pawnees (one of their four bands) wished Mr. Dunbar to go with him on his trips. He went with this band on several of their long hunting expe- ditions. Mr. Dunbar returned to New England, September, 1836, married Miss Esther Smith, January 12, 1837, and returned with her in May of the same year. They resided in Bellevue, near the agency, until April, 1841, when he re- moved 130 miles to a Pawnee village.


"In June, 1843, this village was raided by the Sioux, and many Pawnees were killed, wounded, or carried away captive. Other similar attacks were afterward made, and the mission was given up in 1847.


"Rev. P. E. Ranney and wife joined this mission in 1844, but were transferred to the Cherokee mission in 1847.


"Benedict Satterlee, a physician, and wife set out for the mission March 2, 1836. She died on the way in Liberty, Missouri, April 30, 1836. He reached Bellevue, May 27, 1836, and was murdered while on a missionary tour by a renegade white man, May 10, 1837.


6


INTRODUCTION


"Samuel Allis, farmer and teacher, left Ithaca with Mr. Dunbar for the Pawnee village, May 5, 1834; married Emiline Palmer at Liberty, Missouri, she having come from


SAMUEL ALLIS


Ithaca, New York, with Dr. and Mrs. Satterlee. They were released from the service of the board in 1846.


"George B. Gaston and wife arrived at the mission May, 1840, and were released from service in 1842."


There were then engaged in Congregational work in Nebraska, years before Father Gaylord came to the terri- tory, these missionaries besides Mrs. Platt, who was not


7


INTRODUCTION


commissioned by the board, but who did splendid service as a Congregational worker.


Eighteen hundred and eighty-four was, then, a jubilee year, but it was passed by unnoticed.


Historical accuracy, as well as denominational loyalty calls upon us to make honorable mention of these brave men and women who counted not their lives dear unto themselves, that they might take the Gospel of the dear Lord to the Indian tribes living in Nebraska. One will need to read between the lines to enter into the real spirit of our pioneer fathers. The allusions to the periods of drouth and grasshopper plague are simply a hint at the terrible suffer- ings and deprivations many endured. It is a pathetic chap- ter in the history of our state. It revealed many unnamed heroes and heroines ; men and women who believed in Ne- braska and stayed by the work in the dark hour of need. They have lived to see the state rich and prosperous, and have learned that drouths and plagues are not confined to the region once called "The American Desert," and that this "arid" region has sufficient moisture to insure large returns from the cultivation of its rich, strong soil.


Nebraska faces the future with courage and hope.


CONGREGATIONAL NEBRASKA


I


TIIE FIELD


Fifty-one years ago, May 30, 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska bill was enacted.


That meant the rapid settlement of the new West; that the "American desert" should blossom as the rose; and that the great inoral question of slavery or no slavery should be settled by these new territories for themselves. We are all familiar with the story of "bleeding Kansas," and how she won the victory for freedom.


It was through the immigration of the liberty-loving sons and daughters of the East-the transplanting of a virile New England stock in this western land. That victory de- termined in large measure the moral status of Nebraska on the slavery question.


The territory at that time extended from latitude 40°. to British America, and from the Missouri river to the ridge of the Rocky mountains, a vast empire of some 350,000 square miles. A portion of this territory has been given to Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, leaving a stretch of territory some 200 miles from north to south and 450 miles from the Missouri river west. Its altitude ranges from 1,000 feet on the east to 5,000 feet on the west. Its soil is unsurpassed. The eastern portion is a splendid farm- ing country ; the western is especially valuable for stock raising. Such a territory was bound to attract settlers from the East, even as Iowa had attracted them a few years be- fore. They came in ever-increasing numbers. They and


9


OMAHA IN 1870, LOOKING FAST FROM HIGH SCHOOL


MODERN OMAHA LOOKING EAST FROM HIGH SCHOOL


...


12


CONGREGATIONAL NEBRASKA


their descendants are among us to-day. Who were they? And what is their influence ?


FIRST TERRITORIAL CAPITOL BUILDING OF NEBRASKA ΛΊ ΟMAHA


It is the purpose of this sketch to answer in part the questions, to tell the story, though imperfectly it must needs be, of the Congregationalists who came hither, and what they have accomplished. Our treatise, then, is Congrega- tional Nebraska.


13


CONGREGATIONAL PIONEERS


II


CONGREGATIONAL PIONEERS


Lying just west of Iowa it was natural that Nebraska should attract some of the pioneer preachers from the "Mas- sachusetts of the West" to her own land of promise. One of these pioneers, the Reverend Reuben Gaylord, was the first settled Congregational minister in Nebraska.


The way had in part been prepared for him by Gov. O. D. . Richardson, for four years Lieutenant Governor of Michi- gan, Dr. George L. Miller, a physician of Omaha, and the Rev. George G. Rice, pastor of the Congregational church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Governor Richardson was a native of Vermont, came to Michigan when thirty-two years of age, settling in Pontiac. He came to Omaha in September, 1854, was an earnest Congregationalist, a man of wisdom and strength of character.


Mr. Gaylord said of Governor Richardson: "He was an intelligent Congregationalist, and desired to see the Gos- pel standard raised in this, the frontier town. . He was a wise counselor in church organization and church building. . He took great interest in all that concerned the welfare of the church, and ever proved one of its pillars -was constant in attendance upon Sabbath worship and the prayer meeting, and was a man around whom others loved to gather."1


This Christian lawyer had much to do with laying the foundations of Congregationalism in Nebraska.


Dr. George L. Miller was one of the first trustees of the old First Church in Omaha,2 a warm friend and valuable


1 Gaylord's Life, p. 334.


2 Personal letter to the writer dated June 23, 1904.


14


CONGREGATIONAL NEBRASKA


helper in pioneer Congregational work. It is he who tells this interesting incident in connection with the early work of Reuben Gaylord: In going by the improvised chapel he heard the voice of a man in prayer, and looking in he saw


ORIGEN D. RICHARDSON Trustee First Congregational Church, Omaha


Mr. Gaylord on his knees praying that the Lord would send him an audience. Dr. Miller also said in a letter to Dr. Joseph B. Clark, Secretary of the National Home Mission- ary society : "It was Reuben Gaylord, the brave Christian


15


CONGREGATIONAL PIONEERS


soldier, who brought Sunday into Omaha and the trans- Missouri country."3


REV. GEO. G. RICE Who preached the first Congregational sermon in Nebraska territory


The writer has been at considerable pains to ascertain who preached the first Congregational sermon in Nebraska. There seemed to be different opinions in reference to the


3 Leavening the Nation, by Dr. Joseph B. Clark, p. 119.


16


CONGREGATIONAL NEBRASKA


matter. Fortunately a letter from the Rev. G. G. Rice+ settles the question. Mr. Rice writes :


"Dr. D. B. Coe, Secretary A. H. M. Society, wrote me in July, 1854, requesting that I keep the society informed in regard to the settlements and needs of Nebraska. Au- gust 4, I replied : 'The Indians have not yet been removed to their reservations, and until that time the territory will not be open to settlement. The agent is hastening the re- moval of the Indians, and the territory will likely be open for settlers in a few days.' September 19 I wrote again : 'The Indians have been removed and there is a brisk move- inent into the territory. Omaha, just across the river from Council Bluffs, is to be the capital of the territory. A steam ferry boat is conveying material across the river for the capitol building, which is already under way. Omaha should have a minister as soon as a suitable man can be found, for, being the capital, it will build up rapidly. An- other man should be sent to the territory as general missionary.'


"About this time I secured two lots-a gift from the 'Omaha Land Co.'-for a Congregational church. When the church was built one of the lots was sold for $700, and the money was used in building.


"The latter part of January, 1855, I spent a Sabbath in Omaha and preached morning and evening in the legisla- tive hall, and Monday morning I officiated as chaplain in the same hall. This was the first Congregational sermon in Nebraska after the territory was organized. There were a few Congregationalists in Omaha at this time with whom I was frequently in conference, trying to aid them in se- curing a minister.




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