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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND HILDEN FRYRATIONS
arthur ONaring
OMAHA: THE GATE CITY
and
DOUGLAS COUNTY
NEBRASKA
A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement
ARTHUR C. WAKELEY Supervising Editor
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
CHICAGO : THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1917
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 10982GA ASTOR. LENOX AN ILDEN FORN DAHIN R 1923 L
FOREWORD
To write of the good and true; to preserve a record of past events; to keep green the memories of by-gone days; to hold in recollection the deeds and achievements of those who have gone before us, that we may emulate their examples and profit by their mistakes, is a duty that every individual owes to a common humanity. It was with thoughts such as these in mind that the compilation of this History of Omaha the Gate City and Douglas County was undertaken. How well the task has been performed is for the reader to de- termine.
Less than a century ago the region now comprising the State of Nebraska was shown upon maps of the United States as the "Great American Desert." The Indian and the buffalo were the only occupants. The hills and dales of Douglas County were covered with the primeval forest or the tall grass of the prairie. Then came the white man and the Great American Desert vanished before his industry as the mists of morning vanish before the rising sun.
To tell the story of the hardships encountered and the obstacles overcome by the pioneers, as well as the accomplishments of those who came after them, has been the object in view in the writing of this history. The work has been one involving great care and labor, but the publishers confidently assert that no effort has been spared to give to the people of Omaha and Douglas County a history that is at once authentic and comprehensive. Authentic, because, as far as possible, the official records of city and county have been consulted as sources of information ; and comprehensive, because, it is believed, no important event has been overlooked or neglected.
Much credit is due to old residents and others for their ready and willing co-operation in the collection of data regarding events of years gone by, their scrap-books, collections of old letters and photographs having played no incon- siderable part in the compilation and illustration of the history.
The editor and his assistants take this opportunity to express their obligations to the Omaha newspapers, the various city and county officers and their deputies, and especially to thank the attaches of the Omaha Public Library for their uniform courtesies while the work was in course of preparation.
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY.
(iii)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
EARLY EXPLORATIONS-1492 TO 1800
REASONS FOR THIS CHAPTER-FIRST EXPLORATIONS IN TIIE NEW WORLD-DE SOTO'S EXPEDITION-EXPEDITION OF CORONADO- -- DON JUAN DE ONATE-PENALOSA- FRENCH EXPLORATIONS-MARQUETTE AND JOLIET-LA SALLE'S EXPEDITIONS- SETTLEMENT OF LOUISIANA-CROZAT AND LAW-MALLET BROTHERS IN NEBRASKA -WORK OF THE ENGLISH-CONFLICT OF INTERESTS-FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR-NEBRASKA A SPANISHI POSSESSION -- TIIE REVOLUTIONARY WAR-CLARK'S
CONQUEST OF TIIE NORTHWEST-ITS INFLUENCE ON NEBRASKA. I
CHAPTER II INDIAN HISTORY
DISTRIBUTION OF INDIAN FAMILIES AT THE CLOSE OF TIIE FIFTEENTH CENTURY- INDIANS OF NEBRASKA-THE PAWNEE-THE PONCA-TIIE PONCA LAWSUIT- THE OTOE-THE OMVIIA-TRIBAL ORGANIZATION-LEGEND OF THE SACRED PIPES-MANNERS AND CUSTOMS-OMAHA CHIEFS-IMPRESSIVE BURIAL OF BLACKBIRD-LOGAN FONTENELLE-TREATIES WITH THE OMAHA. .II
CHAPTER III THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE
NEBRASKA AS A FRENCHI AND SPANISH POSSESSION-CONTROVERSY OVER THE NAVI- GATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER-TREATY OF MADRID-NAPOLEON AND TALLEY- RAND-RETROCESSION OF LOUISIANA TO FRANCE-FEELING IN TIIE UNITED STATES-JEFFERSON'S DIPLOMACY-LIVINGSTON AND MONROE'S NEGOTIATIONS -PURCHASE OF THE PROVINCE-FULL TEXT OF THE TREATY OF PARIS-TRANS- FER OF LOUISIANA TO THE UNITED STATES-EXPEDITION OF LEWIS AND CLARK -THEIR STOPPING PLACES IN NEBRASKA-COUNCILS WITH THE INDIANS- RESULT OF THE EXPEDITION, 27
CHAPTER IV THE FUR TRADERS
IMPORTANCE OF THE FUR TRADE IN EARLY DAYS-THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY- THE NORTHWEST COMPANY-FREE TRAPPERS AND TRADERS-MANUEL LISA-THE
(v)
vi
CONTENTS
MISSOURI FUR COMPANY-THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY-ROYE'S POST AT OMAHA-PETER A. SARPY-ROCKY MOUNTAIN FUR COMPANY -- COLUMBIA FUR COMPANY-MARKETING THE FURS-SMUGGLING LIQUOR TO THE INDIANS- GOVERNMENT EXPEDITIONS 38
CHAPTER V
THE MORMON EMIGRATION
MORMONS THE FIRST WHITE SETTLERS IN NEBRASKA-GENERAL HISTORY OF THE MORMON CHURCII-THEIR EARLY MIGRATIONS AND TRIALS-ASSASSINATION OF JOSEPH SMITH-THE WESTWARD MOVEMENT-MORMON BATTALION-COUNCIL WITH THE OMAHA INDIANS-BIG ELK'S SPEECH-WINTER QUARTERS AT FLORENCE-PESTILENCE-EXPULSION FROM THE INDIAN LANDS-BRIGHAM YOUNG'S REVELATION-SALT LAKE VALLEY-THE "MORMON TRAIL"-ITS INFLU- ENCE ON OMAHA AND VICINITY -- TIIE SCARE OF 1857-58 JOHNSTON'S EXPEDI- TION 50
CHAPTER VI NEBRASKA UNDER VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS
FIRST CLAIMED BY SPAIN-NEXT BY FRANCE IN 1682-CEDED TO SPAIN IN 1762- INCLUDED IN TIIE LOUISIANA PURCHASE- TRANSFERRED TO TIIE UNITED STATES IN 1804-ATTACHED TO THE TERRITORY OF INDIANA-TIIE DISTRICT OF LOUIS- IANA-PART OF TIIE TERRITORY OF MISSOURI- ORGANIZED AS A TERRITORY IN 1854-BOUNDARIES-ADMITTED AS A STATE-RECAPITULATION. 56
CHAPTER VII DOUGLAS COUNTY ESTABLISHED
LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES-SURFACE-WATER COURSES-INTRODUCTION OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT- THE FIRST ELECTION-FIRST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE- LOCATING TIIE CAPITAL-TWELVE YEARS OF STRIFE-PART OF THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS TO FLORENCE-SEAT OF GOVERNMENT REMOVED TO LINCOLN-ORG.IN- IZING THE COUNTY-FIRST OFFICIALS-SUBDIVISIONS-LIST OF PRECINCTS. . . 63
CHAPTER VIII THE BEGINNING OF OMAHA
EARLY DAYS AROUND OMAHA-BROWN'S LONE TREE FERRY-FERRY AND TOWN COM- PANY-FIRST CLAIMS LOCATED-CELEBRATING THE EVENT-THE FIRST BUILDINGS-LIST OF PIONEERS-FIRST THINGS-THE CLAIM CLUB AND ITS WORK-FIRST LAND ENTRIES-EARLY DAY JUSTICE-WHIPPING HORSE THIEVES -HANGING OF DALEY AND BRADEN-LYNCHING OF BOUVE-WARNING GAM- BLERS-THEN AND NOW. 73
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER IX
THE PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK
CONDITIONS IN OMAHA NOW AND IN 1854-PIONEER LIFE AND CUSTOMS-INDI- VIDUAL SKETCHES OF TWO SCORE REPRESENTATIVE PIONEERS-THEIR WORK AS THE "BUILDERS OF OMAHA"-A LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS 87
CHAPTER X
THE INCORPORATED CITY
CONDITIONS IN 1853-RAPID GROWTHI OF THE VILLAGE-A NEWSPAPER BOOST INCORPORATION- THE FIRST ELECTION-EARLY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS-A MUNICIPAL HOTEL-EARLY FINANCIAL MATTERS-SCRIP AUTHORIZED-THE FIRST BOND ISSUE-PRACTICING ECONOMY-SOME ODD LEGISLATION-FIRE DE- PARTMENT-POLICE FORCE- PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS-GRADING THE STREETS -- SEWER SYSTEM-HOW THE STREETS WERE NAMED COMMISSION FORM OF GOV-
108 ERNMENT-GREATER OMAHA
CHAPTER XI PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS A NECESSITY- TERRITORIAL CAPITOL-FIRST COURTHOUSE SECOND COURTHOUSE-PRESENT COURTHOUSE-HISTORY AND COST OF EACH- THE POSTOFFICE-IIISTORY OF TIIE INSTITUTION-FIRST POSTOFFICE BUILDING -PRESENT POSTOFFICE-LIST OF POSTMASTERS SINCE 1854-THE CITY HALL- SELECTING THIE SITE-LAYING THE CORNER STONE-COST OF BUILDING-TIIE AUDITORIUM-ITS HISTORY .120
CHAPTER XII PUBLIC UTILITIES
NEEDS OF THE MODERN CITY-WATERWORKS-FUTILE EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH- LITIGATION-THE PROBLEM SOLVED-CHANGES IN PROPRIETORS-MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP-HOW IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED-STREET RAILWAYS-SIX COM- PANIES ORGANIZED-CONSOLIDATION OF INTERESTS-THE PRESENT STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM-OMAHA GAS COMPANY-ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COM- PANIES-NEBRASKA TELEPHONE COMPANY. . 143
CHAPTER XIII PARKS AND BOULEVARDS
ORIGINAL PARKS AS LAID OUT BY THE FOUNDERS OF OMAHA-HANSCOM AND MEGEATH'S DONATION-THE PARK COMMISSION-FIRST BOARD OF PARK COM- MISSIONERS-BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH OF THE TWENTY PUBLIC PARKS- BOULEVARDS CONNECTING THEM-THE FINANCIAL SIDE-FUTURE PROSPECTS- PRIVATE PLEASURE GROUNDS. I55
viii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIV
MILITARY HISTORY
TERRITORIAL MILITIA-THE FONTENELLE WAR-THE PAWNEE WAR-JUDGE ESTA- BROOK'S VERSES-WAR OF 1861-65-SECESSION OF THE SOUTHERN STATES- FALL OF FORT SUMTER-CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-SENTIMENT IN NEBRASKA- GOVERNOR SAUNDERS' PROCLAMATION-FIRST NEBRASKA INFANTRY-FIRST
VETERAN BATTALION-SECOND CAVALRY-CURTIS HORSE-STATE MILITIA ARTILLERY-ROSTERS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY SOLDIERS IN
THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS-SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-CONDITIONS PRECEDING IT- DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE-CALL FOR TROOPS-ROSTERS OF THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD NEBRASKA INFANTRY-TIIE NATIONAL GUARD-FORT OMAHA-DEPARTMENT OF THE PLATTE.
164
CHAPTER XV FINANCIAL HISTORY
BURDEN OF THE PIONEERS-CITY FINANCES-THE FIRST BALANCE SHEET-BONDED DEBT IN 1915-SCHOOL BONDS-DOUGLAS COUNTY FINANCES-DOUGLAS COUNTY BONDS-VALUE OF THE SECURITIES- BANKING INSTITUTIONS-SOUTH OMAH.1 BANKS-RURAL BANKS-NEW BANKS-DEFUNCT BANKS-TRUST COMPANIES - SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS-CHARACTER OF OMAHA'S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
. 192
CHAPTER XVI COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURING
CHARACTER OF EARLY COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS-EARLY MERCHANTS-DEPART- MENT STORES-THE JOBBING TRADE-STATISTICS OF TWELVE LEADING LINES- MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES-BRICK-EARLY SAWMILLS-CARRIAGE FACTO- RIES-BREWERIES-DISTILLERY-IRON WORKS-UNION PACIFIC SHOPS-THE SMELTER- WHITE LEAD WORKS-MISCELLANEOUS FACTORIES-STATISTICAL- PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE ..
.212
CHAPTER XVII GRAIN AND LIVE STOCK TRADE
THE FIRST ELEVATOR IN OMAHA-UNION GRAIN COMPANY-OMAHA ELEVATOR COM- PANY-OTHER ELEVATORS-A. B. STICKNEY-OMAHA GRAIN EXCHANGE-ITS NEW BUILDING-HISTORY OF THE STOCK YARDS-GROWTH OF THE MARKET- COMPARATIVE FIGURES-THE FIRST SALE-PACKING HOUSES-SOME SPECIAL. FEATURES 230
CHAPTER XVIII TRANSPORTATION, RAILROADS, ETC.
MISSOURI RIVER NAVIGATION-THE RAILROAD ERA-A WISE SCIIOOL BOARD- GOVERNOR CUMING'S FIRST MESSAGE-THE UNION PACIFIC-CREDIT MOBILIER
ix
CONTENTS
-- CENTRAL PACIFIC-COMPLETION OF THIE TRANS-CONTINENTAL RAILWAY- BRIDGING THE MISSOURI-MISCELLANEOUS FACTS ABOUT THE UNION PACIFIC- CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN-ST. JOSEPH & COUNCIL BLUFFS-CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC-OMAHA & SOUTHWESTERN-OMAHA & NORTHWESTERN- FREMONT, ELKHORN & MISSOURI VALLEY-CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY- MISSOURI PACIFIC-OMAHA BELT RAILROAD-ILLINOIS CENTRAL-CHICAGO GREAT WESTERN-MISCELLANEOUS RAILROAD HISTORY. .242
CHAPTER XIX COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
EVOLUTION OF ASSOCIATIONS-BOARD OF TRADE-REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE-REAL ESTATE OWNERS' ASSOCIATION-MANUFACTURERS AND CONSUMERS' ASSOCIA- TION-COMMERCIAL CLUB-OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. . 262
CHAPTER XX TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPOSITION
BEGINNING OF THE MOVEMENT-THE BRYAN RESOLUTION- ORGANIZATION-BOARD OF WOMEN MANAGERS-UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS-FINANCING THE ENTERPRISE-GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS-OPENING THE EXPOSITION-SPECIAL DAYS-JUBILEE WEEK-PRESIDENT MCKINLEY'S SPEECH-RAILROAD WEEK- FOREIGN EXHIBITS-TIIE MIDWAY PLAISANCE-THE INDIAN ENCAMPMENT- GENERAL MILES AND GERONIMO-MISCELLANEOUS. . 269
CHAPTER XXI EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CHARACTER OF THE EARLY SCHOOLS ON THE FRONTIER-THE PIONEER TEACHER- COURSE OF STUDY AND TEXT BOOKS-FIRST SCHOOLS IN OMAHA-PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM-THE HIGH SCHOOL-GRADED SCHOOLS-BOARD OF EDUCATION-RURAL SCHOOLS-CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY-BROWNELL HALL-THE OMAHA SEMI- NARY-UNIVERSITY oF OMAHA-PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS-OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY-SOUTHI OMAHA LIBRARY-A WORD OF COMMENT 280
CHAPTER XXII THE CITY AND COUNTY PRESS
INFLUENCE OF EARLY NEWSPAPERS-SKETCHES OF PIONEER JOURNALS AND JOUR- NALISTS-THE WORLD-HERALD'S ORIGIN-THE FIRST MORNING DAILY-THE DAILY BEE-THE NEWS-DEFUNCT PUBLICATIONS-OMAHA PUBLICATIONS OF 1916-WESTERN NEWSPAPER UNION-RURAL NEWSPAPERS. 300
CHAPTER XXIII THE BENCH AND BAR
PURPOSE OF THE COURTS-TENDENCY TO CRITICIZE-THE LAWYER AS A CITIZEN-
TERRITORIAL COURTS AND JUDGES-DISTRICT COURTS-LIST OF DISTRICT
x
CONTENTS
JUDGES-COUNTY COURTS AND JUDGES-COUNTY ATTORNEYS-THE MUNICIPAL COURT-THE BAR-CHARACTER SKETCHES OF EARLY LAWYERS-BAR ASSOCIA- TION-A FEW NOTED TRIALS-LAW SCHOOLS. .313
CHAPTER XXIV THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
MEDICINE AN OLD PROFESSION-DEVELOPMENT OF TIIE HEALING ART-HOME REME- DIES OF EARLY DAYS-THE PIONEER DOCTOR-IIIS CHARACTER AND METHODS OF TREATING DISEASE-HIS STANDING AS A CITIZEN-IIARDSHIPS ENCOUNTERED IN FRONTIER PRACTICE-BRIEF SKETCHES OF EARLY PHYSICIANS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY-MEDICAL SOCIETIES-MEDICAL COLLEGES-HOMEOPATHY. 336
CHAPTER XXV BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS
HOW CHARITY WAS DISPENSED AMONG THE PIONEERS-THE POOR FARM-DOUGLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL-ITS UNFORTUNATE HISTORY-DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE- HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS-BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EACH-ASSOCIATED CHARITIES-CEMETERIES .351
CHAPTER XXVI SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION-TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES- ART SOCIETIES-KNIGHTS OF AK-SAR-BEN-MASONIC FRATERNITY-ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR-INDEPENDENT ORDER
OF ODD FELLOWS-DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH-KNIGHTS OF PYTIIIAS-THE ELKS-WOODMEN OF THE WORLD- GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES-DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-TRADES UNIONS-YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-SOCIAL CLUBS. . . 365
CHAPTER XXVII CHURCH HISTORY . .
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS IN OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY-THE ADVENTISTS --- BAPTISTS-CATHOLICS-THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH-CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH - CONGREGATIONALISTS - DUNKARDS - EPISCOPAL CHURCHI - EVANGELICAL CIIURCHI-HIEBREW SOCIETIES-LATTER DAY SAINTS-THE LUTHERANS-BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE VARIOUS PARISHES AND CONGREGATIONS. 384
CHAPTER XXVIII CHURCH HISTORY, CONTINUED
THE METHODISTS-FIRST SERMON IN OMAHA-PRESBYTERIANS-IIISTORICAL SKETCHES OF METHODIST AND PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATIONS-TIIE PEOPLE'S CHURCHI-UNITARIANS-MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. .. 400
xi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIX
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
EARLY DAY SPECULATION IN TOWN SITES-NUMEROUS TOWNS PROJECTED-DOUGLAS COUNTY MORE FORTUNATE THAN SOME LOCALITIES-LIST OF TOWNS AND VIL- LAGES IN THE COUNTY-HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EACH-POSTOFFICES AND RURAL ROUTES IN 1916. .4II
CHAPTER XXX MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY
AN OLD TRADITION-PRICES THEN AND NOW-A HUNGRY CHIEF-AN INDIAN SCARE-EARLY HOTELS-REMOVING THE STATE ARCHIVES-BORING FOR COAL- CANADA BILL-LABOR TROUBLES-MURDER OF W. B. SMITH-LYNCHING A NEGRO-VISITS OF NOTABLE PERSONS-THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1881-THE TORNADO
OF 1913 424
CHAPTER XXXI STATISTICAL REVIEW
RECLAIMING THE DESERT-POPULATION AND WEALTH-THE FIRST CENSUS-LIST OF CITY OFFICIALS-THE COUNTY ROSTER-THE LEGISLATURE-LIST OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY-UNITED STATES SENATORS. . 452
CHAPTER XXXII CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
CIVILIZATION A PRODUCT OF EVOLUTION-INFLUENCE OF EVENTS UPON THOSE THAT FOLLOW-AN EXAMPLE-EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY-LIST OF IMPORTANT OCCURRENCES SINCE THE FIRST SETTLEMENT 464
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
CHAPTER I
EARLY EXPLORATIONS-1492 TO 1800
REASONS FOR THIS CHAPTER-FIRST EXPLORATIONS IN THE NEW WORLD-DE SOTO'S EXPEDITION-EXPEDITION OF CORONADO- -- DON JUAN DE ONATE-PENALOSA- FRENCH EXPLORATIONS-MARQUETTE AND JOLIET-LA SALLE'S EXPEDITIONS- SETTLEMENT OF LOUISIANA-CROZAT AND LAW-MALLET BROTHERS IN NEBRASKA -WORK OF THE ENGLISH-CONFLICT OF INTERESTS-FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR-NEBRASKA A SPANISHI POSSESSION -- TIIE REVOLUTIONARY WAR-CLARK'S CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST- ITS INFLUENCE ON NEBRASKA.
Bastiat, the eminent French economist, once wrote an essay entitled "The Seen and the Unseen," in which he showed how necessary it is to be able to reason from the effect (The Seen) back to the cause (The Unseen). The theory can be applied to history as well as to economics. The people of the present genera- tion see the City of Omaha, with its busy marts and other evidences of civic prosperity; the State of Nebraska, with its fertile fields, commercial centers and great arteries of transportation ; but do they stop to consider the forces that brought about the present state of development? The old saying, "Rome was not built in a day," applies with equal appropriateness to every city, every political division or subdivision of the civilized countries of the world. Long before Omaha was even dreamed of, the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus constituted the first link in a chain of events that culminated in the establishment of the American Republic and the division of the central portion of North America into states and counties. It is therefore deemed advisable to give an account of these events, in order that the reader may form some idea of the evolution of the State of Nebraska and the City of Omaha.
In 1493, the year following the first voyage of Columbus to the New World, the pope granted to the King and Queen of Spain "all countries inhabited by infidels." At that time the extent of the continent discovered by Columbus was not known, but, in a vague way, this papal grant included the present State of Nebraska.
Three years later Henry VII of England granted to John Cabot and his sons a patent of possession and trade "to all lands they may discover and lay Vol. 1-1
1
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OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
claim to in the name of the English crown." Between that time and the close of the century the Cabots explored the Atlantic Coast and made discoveries upon which England claimed practically all the central part of North America. Farther northward the French, through the discoveries of Jacques Cartier, laid claim to the valley of the St. Lawrence River and the region about the Great Lakes, from which they pushed their explorations westward toward the headwaters of the Mississippi River and southward into the Valley of the Ohio.
Thus, at the very beginning of American history, three great European nations were actively engaged in exploring the Western Hemisphere. Follow- ing the usage of nations, by which title to land was claimed "by right of dis- covery," it is not surprising that in course of time a controversy arose among these three great powers as to which was the rightful possessor of the soil.
In November, 1519, Hernando Cortez, with a strong force of Spanish soldiery, entered Mexico, captured Montezuma, the "Mexican emperor," and after a two years' war succeeded in establishing Spanish supremacy. Cortez fell into disfavor with the Spanish authorities, but that nation retained posses- sion of Mexico, to which was given the name of New Spain. Military gover- nors failed to give satisfaction in controlling the affairs of the conquered province, and in 1535 Antonio de Mendoza was appointed viceroy, with almost unlimited powers. He was known as "the good viceroy." By his diplomacy he succeeded in establishing friendly relations with the natives and did much toward advancing the interests of the people. Under Mendoza and his successors, many of the Indians were converted to the Catholic faith and exploration and settlement were pushed northward into Texas, New Mexico and California.
DE SOTO'S EXPEDITION
The grant of the pope to "infidel countries" was strengthened in 1541-42 by the expedition of Hernando de Soto into the interior of what is now the United States. De Soto was born in Spain about 1496 and had been connected with some of the early expeditions to Peru, in which service he demonstrated his qualifications to command. Charles I appointed him governor of Florida and Cuba in the spring of 1538 and one of his first official acts was to issue orders for the fortification of the Harbor of Havana. Under orders from King Charles, he left Cuba on May 12, 1539, with about one thousand men, for the purpose of exploring the interior of Florida.
With his little army he left Florida early in June and marched in a north- westerly direction. At a place called Tascaluza he met a large body of hostile Indians and a battle ensued which lasted for several hours. Many of the Indians were killed and the rest finally fled. The Spanish loss was seventy killed and a number wounded, among whom was De Soto himself. Taking up a position that could be easily defended, the expedition delayed until the wounded could resume the march. Like nearly all the early Spanish explorers, De Soto's chief object was to find rich mines of the precious metals. After wandering about for several months he came to the Mississippi River in the spring of 1541. He then tried to reach the Spanish settlements in Mexico, but was strieken with fever and died in the wilderness, his body being buried in the river he had discovered. A few of his men finally managed to reach Florida and gave an
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OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
account of the expedition. Upon their report Spain claimed "all the land bor- dering on the Grande River and the Gulf of Mexico."
EXPEDITION OF CORONADO
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, a native of Salamanca, was appointed governor of New Gallicia, one of the northern provinces of Mexico, about the same time that De Soto was appointed governor of Florida and Cuba, or per- haps a little earlier. He has been described as cold and cruel, ambitious and always looking for an opportunity to distinguish himself and win the favor of his royal master.
In 1536 four men reached the City of Mexico, having spent some time in wandering among the Sierra Mountains and over the sandy plains farther to the northward. One of these men, called Estevan or "Stephen the Moor," gave a circumstantial account of an expedition of some four hundred men that left Florida eight years before, hut had been reduced by hardships, toil and captivity among the Indians to the four men who at last escaped and found their way to the Spanish settlements in Mexico. This Moor also told of opulent cities, known as the "seven cities of Cibola," of which he had heard frequent reports from the Indians but had never seen.
In these reports Coronado saw a chance to win fame and establish himself more firmly at court. He sent out a small expedition under Father Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan friar, to reconnoiter the seven cities, Estevan accompanying the party as guide. The Moor, with a few men, went on in advance and reached the cities before the friar and the main body had covered more than half the distance. Incited by that avarice which was such a distinguishing characteristic of the early Spanish explorers in America, he proceeded to plunder the houses and killed some of the natives who refused to part with their property. The inhabitants then took up arms against the invaders, with the result that Estevan and his associates were compelled to beat a hasty retreat. Upon meeting Father de Niza they told him what had happened, and from this point accounts of the expedition differ. The friar reported that he went on until he came to an eminence, from which he could plainly see the cities of Cibola, the lofty houses, the abundant evidences of great opulence, but some of the private soldiers say he turned back in great fright. In the light of subsequent events, the latter report seems to be the most plausible.
Coronado, however, did not abandon the idea of leading an expedition to the fabled cities and appropriating the wealth he might find there. Accord- ingly, in the spring of 1540, with 300 Spanish soldiers and 800 natives, he left New Gallicia and took up his march for the seven cities. Some writers have attempted to show that the cities of Cibola were located northeast of Zuni, New Mexico, and that the Zuni ruins are but the remains of the fabled cities.
Three accounts of the Coronado expedition were afterward published-one by Coronado himself, one by his lieutenant, Jaramillo, and the third by a private soldier named Castaneda. All agree that when they reached the cities of which they had heard so much, they found only seven insignificant native villages, with no lofty buildings, no gold, no jewels. Fearing that he would be laughed at if he returned empty-handed, Coronado inquired if there were not some other
4
OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
cities it might be profitable to visit. The natives, glad of an opportunity to get rid of the Spaniards, told glowing accounts of a rich province about one hundred leagues to the eastward. Thither the adventurer wended his way, only to meet with another disappointment. He found some Indian villages, but not the fabu- lous wealth of which he was in search. Chagrined at this defeat, Coronado made war on the peaceable natives and practically annihilated their villages.
Castaneda's account says they spent the winter of 1540-41 at this place, which he calls Cicuye, and which archaeologists have located in the Pecos Valley, not far from the present Town of Puerto de Luna. While at Cicuye an Indian, who claimed to be a prisoner, came to Coronado and with an air of great mystery told of a country called Quivira, some three hundred leagues farther toward the northeast, in which there was a great river, seven miles wide, with fish as large as horses. The ruler of this country, he said, was named Tartarrax, an old man, quite wealthy, who worshiped a cross of gold and the image of a woman, and who prayed by means of a string of beads. The commonest utensils were of silver and many of the vessels were of the finest beaten gold. He told his story in so impressive a manner that the cupidity of the Spaniards was fully aroused, and proposed to Coronado that if the Spaniards would assist him to escape he would guide them to this rich province.
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