York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. I, Part 1

Author: Sedgwick, T. E. (Theron E.), 1852-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, [Ill.] : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 636


USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. I > Part 1


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YORK COUNTY


NEBRASKA AND ITS PEOPLE Together with a Condensed History of the State


T. E. SEDGWICK Supervising Editor


A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement


VOL. I ILLUSTRATED


CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1921


PUBLIC LIBRARY


707205 A


ASTOR. LEX


L TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R


1934 L


HYMN TO NEBRASKA


BY REV. WILLIAM H. BUSS, FREMONT


Now laud the proud tree planter state, Nebraska,-free, enlightened, great ; Her royal place she has in song : The noblest strains to her belong : Her fame is sure. Then sing Nebraska through the years; Extol her stalwart pioneers ; The days when, stanch and unafraid, The state's foundations, well they laid. To long endure.


The land where Coronado trod. And brave Marquette surveyed the sod : Where red men long in council sat ; Where spreads the valley of the Platte Far neath the sun. The land, beside whose borders sweep The big Missouri's waters, deep, Whose course erratic, through its sands, From northland on, through many lands,


Does seaward run.


The foothills of the Rockies lie Afar athwart her western sky: Her rolling prairie, like the sea, Held long in virgin sanctity Her fertile loam. Her wild-life roamed o'er treeless plains Till came the toiling wagon-trains, And settlers bold. far westward bound. In broad Nebraska's valley found Their chosen home.


Now o'er her realm and 'neath her sky, Her golden harvests richly lie; ller corn more vast than Egypt yields ; Her grain unmatched in other fields : Her cattle rare.


Alfalfa fields, by winding streams ; And sunsets, thrilling poets' dreams. These all we sing, and know the time Has ne'er revealed a fairer clime, Or sweeter air.


O proud Nebraska, brave and free ; Thus sings thy populace to thee. Thy virile strength. thy love of light ; Thy civic glory, joined with right. Our hearts elate.


Thy manly wisdom, firm to rule: Thy womanhood in church and school ; Thy learning, culture, art. and peace Do make thee strong, and ne'er shall cease


To keep thee great. (to be included on occasion)


Her heaving bluffs uplift their heads Along her winding river beds. And, pleasing far the traveler's view,- Well guard her Elkhorn and her Blue, Encrowned with wood. And there, by landmarks, ne'er to fail, Upon the ancient westward trail ; Or graven stone, securely placed, Ry eye observant may be traced Where wigwam stood.


Her honored cities grow in wealth ; In thriving commerce, publie health ; Her first, the gateway of the West ; Hler Omaha, that will not rest, Nor take defeat. Her capital of worthy fame, That bears the mighty Lincoln's name, And thousands of Nebraska youth E'er summons to her fount of truth. At learning's seat.


ii


PREFACE


THE STORY OF A STATE


Events do not necessarily have to be a century behind in the dim past to be history. Nebraska is making history at a dizzy speed. Here lies an opportunity for the chronicler not only to dig into the past, but from the raw material of the present form valuable foundations for future reference. There are men yet living in this vicinity who can remember the time when its connection with the human story would have seemed absurd. They have seen the buffalo, the antelope, the prairie dog and the coyote, the rattlesnake and the owl, and even the occasional friendly Indian retire before the explorer, the trader, the Mormons, the immi- grants. the homesteader, the stalwart pioneer, and seen the endless prairies dotted with the soddy, then the hut, and finally the luxuriant farms and prosperous towns of present Nebraska.


Full volumes have been written on the history of Nebraska, going into long, laborious detail upon each important topic. But so many readers feel that the task of familiarizing themselves with volume after volume is too exacting upon the time of the busy. hurried twentieth-century individual. So it has been considered expedient to introduce the county historical section of this work with an abridged review of the historical development of the State of Nebraska. That this may be equally interesting to readers of all classes, be brief enough to be thoroughly examined, be systematized so that the salient facts can be found whenever reference is desired, this part of the work has been compiled by the undersigned and many others, whose work has assisted him in a synoptical, chronological and encyclopedic arrangement.


A work of this character is not the prodnet of one person's research, energy or ideas. but a compilation of the earnest fruitful endeavors of many persons. Par- tienlarly do the compiler and publishers wish to acknowledge thankful indebtedness to Hon. Addison E. Sheldon, secretary; Mrs. Clarence E. Paine, librarian ; Albert Watkins. historian ; and E. E. Blackman, enrator of the Nebraska State Historical Society: George E. Condra, director of the Nebraska Conservation Commission, whose careful research of years "boiled down" in the Bulletin 14 of that depart- ment has gratefully been received as authority for a major portion of Chapters I, XIII and XIV of this work ; and due gratitude and credit is extended to the work of Prof. Samuel Aughey and others who assisted in compilation of his- torical material in the early '80s, Harrison Johnson of Omaha, Prof. HI. W. Foght, in his "Trail of the Loup," Gen. G. M. Dodge, and the authorities of the Federal Government for data furnished from their publications.


DALE P. STOUGH,


Grand Island, Nebraska.


CONTENTS


....


HYMN TO NEBRASKA


. .ii


CHAPTER I GEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA


CREATIVE PERIODS- THE ARCIIAIC AGE-ERAS IN GEOLOGICAL HISTORY-THE TALEO- ZOIC ERA-THE PERMIAN AGE-THE MESOZOIC AGE-TIIE CRETACEOUS PERIOD- THE CENOZOIC ERA-TIIE TERTIARY AGE-THE QUATERNARY EPOCH-THE GLACIAL PERIOD-THE LOESS PERIOD THE SOIL SURVEY AND ITS USE-THE SOIL RE- SOURCES AND REGIONS OF NEBRASKA-LOESS REGION-SANDHILL REGION-PHYS- ICAL FEATURES-RIVERS OF NEBRASKA-THE MISSOURI-THE PLATTE-TIIE REPUBLICAN- THE NIOBRARA-TIIE WHITE-THE ELKHORN-THE LOUPS-THE NEMAHAS-THE BLUES-TIIE CLIMATE OF NEBRASKA-NEBRASKA'S GAME RE- SOURCES-MAMMALS OF NEBRASKA-WILD LIFE RESOURCES-WILD GRASS RE- SOURCES-FOREST RESOURCES -- WILD FRUITS-FISH RESOURCES-MODERN GAME RESOURCES- FUR BEARING ANIMALS.


CHAPTER II THE NEBRASKA INDIANS


CHRONOLOGICALLY, 1673-1804-TIIE PAWNEES-PAWNEE WAR OF 1859-PAWNEE- SIOUX MASSACRE, 1873-MAJOR FRANK NORTH AND PAWNEE SCOUTS-TIIE SIOUX -DEPREDATIONS, DAWSON COUNTY- BUFFALO AND HALL COUNTIES-HALL COUNTY MASSACRES-THAYER COUNTY-GENERAL CARR'S BATTLE WITH SIOUX-THE OMAHAS-THE OTOES-THE WINNEBAGOES- THE PONCAS-IOWAS, SACS AND FOX -ARAPAIIOES AND CHEYENNES- BATTLE OF AUGUST, 1860- BATTLE OF ASH HALLOW-WHITE MAN'S TREATMENT OF THE RED MAN. .37


CHAPTER III "THE BIRTH OF A STATE"


Before Territorial Days


DISCOVERERS-THE QUEST OF QUIVERA-FRENCH EXPLORATIONS-NEBRASKA UNDER FRENCH AND SPANISH RULES-AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS-LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION-TIIE ASTORIAN EXPEDITION-LONG'S EXPEDITION-TRAIL BLAZERS- GOVERNMENTAL CIIANGES IN NEBRASKA TERRITORY-THE MORMONS-THE GOLD HUNTERS-"LIFE ON THE PLAINS"-OVERLAND TRAILS-"ILAVE YOU AN EYE ?"- OREGON TRAIL-OTHER TRAILS-DECLINE OF THESE TRAILS-STAGE COACHIES- PONY EXPRESS SYSTEM-THEN AND NOW 55


vi


CONTENTS


CHAPTER IV


THE GRADUAL SETTLEMENT OF THE STATE


COUNTIES IN TILE ORDER OF SETTLEMENT-SETTLEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES -1810-1819-1826-1844-1816-1853-OMAHA - BROWNVILLE - NEMAHA CITY-PLATTSMOUTHI-NEBRASKA CITY-1854-1855-1856-COLUMBUS-FRE- MONT-BEATRICE-GRAND ISLAND-1858-1860-1863-1866-NORTH PLATTE- 1867-1868-1869-SCIIUYLER-WAIIOO-BLAIR-FAIRBURY-NORFOLK - 1870 -1871-2-KEARNEY-1873-1877-1880-1881-2-1883 .76


CHAPTER V DEVELOPMENT OF NEBRASKA-BY COUNTIES


ORDER OF ORGANIZATION-EIGHT ORIGINAL COUNTIES-CHANGES BY FIRST LEGISLA- TURE-ACT OF JANUARY 26, 1856-ORGANIZATION, YEAR BY YEAR-INLAND COUN- TIES-THE COUNTIES OF NEBRASKA INDIVIDUALLY-POPULATION OF COUNTIES- SIIORT SKETCHI OF FIRST SETTLEMENTS, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EACH COUNTY (ARRANGED IN ALPILABETICAL ORDER)-ORIGIN OF NEBRASKA NAMES- COUNTY NAMES 89


CHAPTER VI TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT


FORMATIVE STEPS-AREA-OFFICERS-GOVERNOR CUMING'S ADMINISTRATION-GOV- ERNOR IZARD'S ADMINISTRATION-GOVERNOR RICHARDSON-GOVERNOR BLACK- GOVERNOR SAUNDERS-NEBRASKA'S PART IN THE CIVIL WAR-NINTH TO TWELFTHI LEGISLATURES-EVOLUTION INTO STATEHOOD-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1866-OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE TERRITORY. .146


CHAPTER VII NEBRASKA'S GOVERNMENT AS A STATE


GOVERNOR BUTLER'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION (1867-9)-CHANGE IN CAPITAL- BUTLER'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION-BUTLER'S THIRD ADMINISTRATION 1871- THE IMPEACHMENT OF A GOVERNOR-GOVERNOR FURNAS'S ADMINISTRATION (1873-5)-GOVERNOR GARBER'S ADMINISTRATION (1875-7)-THIE CONSTITUTION OF 1875-GOVERNOR GARBER'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION (1877-9)-GOVERNOR NANCE'S ADMINISTRATIONS (1879-1883)-GOVERNOR DAWES' ADMINISTRATIONS ( 1883-1887)-GOVERNOR THAYER'S ADMINISTRATIONS (1887-1891)-GOVERNOR


BOYD'S ADMINISTRATION (1891-3)-GOVERNOR CROUNSE'S ADMINISTRATION (1893-5)-GOVERNOR HOLCOMB'S ADMINISTRATION (1895-1899)-NEBRASKA IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-GOVERNOR POYNTER'S ADMINISTRATION (1899-


1901)-GOVERNORS DIETRICH-SAVAGE ADMINISTRATION (1901-3)-GOVERNOR MICKEY'S ADMINISTRATIONS ( 1903-1907) -GOVERNOR SHELDON'S ADMINISTRATION (1907-1909)-GOVERNOR SHALLENBERGER'S ADMINISTRATION (1909-1911)- GOVERNOR ALDRICHI'S ADMINISTRATION (1911-13)-GOVERNOR MOREHEAD'S AD- MINISTRATIONS (1913-1917)-GOVERNOR NEVILLE'S ADMINISTRATION (1917-1919)


vii


CONTENTS


-SEMI-CENTENNIAL STATEHOOD CELEBRATION, 1917-NEBRASKA IN THE WORLD WAR-GOVERNOR MC KELVIE'S ADMINISTRATION (1919-1921)-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1920-STATE INSTITUTIONS-ROSTER OF STATE OFFICERS. . . . 156


CHAPTER VIII


THIE RAILROADS OF NEBRASKA


THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD-WHAT THE ENGINES SAID-THE BURLINGTON SYSTEM -RAILROAD BUILDING AND EXTENSION (BY YEARS)-THE STATE RAILWAY COM- MISSION-RAILROADS PALMY POLITICAL DAYS. 200


CHAPTER IX RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT


DURING THE THIRTIES-DURING THE FORTIES-DENOMINATIONAL BEGINNINGS-TIIE CHURCHI, THE SCHOOL, AND THIE SOCIETY-BELLEVUE-NEBRASKA CITY-OMAHA- GRAND LODGE, MASONIC- GRAND LODGE K. OF P .- PLATTSMOUTH-BROWNVILLE - NEMAHA COUNTY-WASHIINGTON COUNTY-TEKAMAII-COLUMBUS-FREMONT- TECUMSEH-FALLS CITY-BEATRICE-GRAND ISLAND-KEARNEY-NORTH PLATTE -LINCOLN-SCHUYLER-WAHOO-BLAIR-FAIRBURY-NORFOLK-MADISON -- SEW- ARD-MILFORD-YORK- IHIGHER EDUCATION IN NEBRASKA-THIE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-PROF. SAMUEL AUGHIEY'S REVIEW OF THE STARTING OF THE UNIVERSITY-NEBRASKA COLLEGES, BY SOURCE OF SUPPORT-BY THE STATE- BAPTIST-CATHOLIC-PRESBYTERIAN-UNITED BRETHREN-DANISH LUTHIERAN- LUTHIERAN-METHODIST EPISCOPAL-CONGREGATIONAL-NEBRASKA'S CARE FOR HIER NEEDY 215


CHAPTER X THE PRESS OF NEBRASKA


THE NEBRASKA PALLADIUM-TIIE OMAHA ARROW-THE NEBRASKIAN-THE NEBRASKA NEWS-TIIE BROWNVILLE ADVERTISER-THE OMAHA TIMES-EARLY PAPERS BY COUNTIES (taking about first seventy counties in alphabetical order) -NEBRASKA NEWSPAPERS OF TODAY-NEWSPAPERS IN 1920. 242


CHAPTER XI BANKING IN NEBRASKA


TERRITORIAL WILD CAT BANKING-EARLY BANKS AT : NEBRASKA CITY-OMAHA- LINCOLN - BEATRICE - BLAIR-BROWNVILLE-COLUMBUS-CRETE-FAIRBURY- - FREMONT- GRAND ISLAND-KEARNEY-MADISON- NORFOLK-PAWNEE CITY- PLATTSMOUTH-SCHUYLER-TECUMSEHI-WEST POINT-YORK-BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS 268


vili


CONTENTS


CHAPTER XII THE BENCH AND BAR OF NEBRASKA


THE STATE SUPREME COURT-TIFE DISTRICT BENCIL OF NEBRASKA-LEADERS OF THE BAR OF NEBRASKA-THE EARLY BAR OF TILE STATE (TAKEN BY ALL LARGER COUNTY SEATS, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER )-OMAHA-LINCOLN-OTHER TOWNS- MORRILL COUNTY BAR IN THE WORLD WAR. 276


CHAPTER XIII AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA


AGRICULTURAL NEBRASKA-THE CORN INDUSTRY (W. W. BURR)-THIE WHEAT INDUS- TRY (W. W. BURR)-FLOURING MILLS-CREAMERIES IN NEBRASKA-TIIE DAIRY INDUSTRY (J. II. FRANSDEN ) -ALFALFA IN NEBRASKA (R. P. CRAWFORD) -BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY (ANDERSON-LASSEN ) -THE POTATO INDUSTRY (R. F. HOWARD) HORTICULTURAL RESOURCES (R. F. HOWARD)-DRY FARMING (C. S. HAWK)- IRRIGATION IN NEBRASKA (GEO. E. JOHNSON )-THE BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY ( HOWARD GRAMLICH )-THE SWINE INDUSTRY (SAM MC KELVIE)-THE SHEEP INDUSTRY (J. D. WILITMORE)-THE HORSE INDUSTRY (THOMAS BRADSTREET)- THE POULTRY INDUSTRY ( F. E. MUSSEIIL )-BEES IN NEBRASKA (FRANK G. 291 ODELL)


CHAPTER XIV MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES


NEBRASKA FACTORIES-MANUFACTURERS OF NEBRASKA (FRANK I. RINGER) -RAIL- ROADS AND INTERURBAN COMMUNICATION (II. G. TAYLOR) -TIIE TELEPIIONE INDUS- TRY (R. E. MATTISON ) -MINERAL RESOURCES (G. E. CONDRA)-SAND, COAL, OIL, CLAY, CEMENT AND POTASII (G. E. CONDEA) . 309


CHAPTER XV


OUTLINE OF AUTHORITIES. .318


HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY


CHAPTER I


THE STORY OF YORK COUNTY


PHYSICAL SURVEY OF THE COUNTY- THE SOIL-LOESS PLAIN SOILS-CLIMATE- EASTER STORM OF 1873-THIE BLIZZARD OF 1888-LATER STORMS-THE GROWTH OF YORK COUNTY (CENSU'S FIGURES, 1920 AND PRIOR) .33


ix


CONTENTS


CHAPTER II


EARLY SETTLEMENTS THROUGH THE COUNTY


EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS IN SOUTHERN YORK COUNTY-ON THIE WEST BLUE -- TIIE MYSTERIOUS GUEST (BY ARMINDA GILMORE)-EARLY SETTLERS-A PIONEER HIOME -SOCIAL LIFE-ELIAS GILMORE-J. W. GILMORE-JERRY STANTON-ISAAC ONG -S. S. DEFFENBAUGHI-II. C. KLEINSCHMIDT-EZEKIEL EVANS-MARY A. GILMORE -J. W. RUSH-IIIRAM SCHINEBLEY-W. II. TAYLOR-LEVI DEAN-W. D. PUR- CELL .351


CHAPTER III REMINISCENCES OF PIONEERS


COST OF PIONEERING ( MRS. JENNIE STEPITENS)-REMINISCENCES BY W. E. DAYTON- RECOLLECTIONS OF A PIONEER PASTOR'S WIFE ( MRS. W. E. MORGAN)-SPEECH AT OLD SETTLERS' PICNIC BY MRS. GEORGE BOWERS-MRS. CAP. J. B. READ-CIIRISTIAN IIOLOCII-MONTRAVILLE ROBBINS-REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER DAYS-L. D. STILSON-A. W. WIRT-FACTS FIFTY YEARS AGO-L. J. GANDY-ROSA C. MC LEL- LAN-STORY OF A YORK COUNTY PIONEER-THEIR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN YORK, BY


.367 NUMEROUS CITIZENS


CHAPTER IV SETTLEMENT BY TOWNSHIPS


YORK PRECINCT-WEST BLUE PRECINCT-BEAVER CREEK PRECINCT-BAKER PRE- CINCT-NORTII BLUE PRECINCT-HENDERSON PRECINCT-DAVID IIENDERSON- STEWART PRECINCT-GRESIIAM (H. ,C. LANPHERE) -WOODRUFF PRECINCT- HOUSTON PRECINCT-LEE MORTON. .395


CHAPTER V THE CITY OF YORK


EARLY BUILDINGS-INCORPORATION-LIST OF COUNCILMEN AND CITY OFFICERS- POLICE JUDGES-NEW YORK-EARLY DAYS TEMPERANCE STRUGGLE-TIIE PUB- LIC LIBRARY-DEFEATED COMMISSION GOVERNMENT-BAD FIRES-YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT-PARKS 408


CHIAPTER VI OTHER TOWNS IN YORK COUNTY


ARBORVILLE-BRADSHAW-WACO-MC COOL JUNCTION-GRESHAM-THAYER-BENE- DICT-HENDERSON-LUSHTON-OTHER TOWNS 443


CONTENTS


CHAPTER VII


COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT


NAMING OF YORK COUNTY-THE COURT HOUSE-COUNTY ORGANIZATION-EARLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT - COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - COUNTY CLERKS - COUNTY TREASURERS-SHERIFFS-COUNTY ATTORNEYS-COUNTY JUDGES-COUNTY SUPER- INTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS-ASSESSOR-SURVEYOR AND ENGINEERS-CORONERS-CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT-REGISTRAR OF DEEDS-1920 ELECTION AND 1921 OFFI- .480 CERS


CHAPTER VIII YORK COUNTY'S PART IN STATE AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS


POLITICAL PARTICIPATION-DISTRICT COURTS-JUDGE S. II. SEDGWICK-JUDGE BATES' CASE-LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION-OTHER PARTICIPATION IN STATE AFFAIRS -POSTAL SERVICE-PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS-CUSTODIAL HOME-MOTHERS' JEWELS' HOME-I. O. O. F. STATE HOME-COUNTY WELFARE WORK. .. 500


CHAPTER IX RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS THROUGH YORK COUNTY


RAILROADS (IN 1887)-STATE IHIGHWAY SYSTEM-YORK COUNTY ROADS (ENGINEER FRED VOYLES)-AUTOMOBILES UPON HIGHWAYS. 523


CHAPTER X AGRICULTURE IN YORK COUNTY


AGRICULTURE-REVIEW IN 1887-THE GRASSHOPPERS- "WIIEN THE GRASSHOPPERS CAME," MRS. D. T. MOORE-WORK WAS THE PASSWORD-THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE- LIVE STOCK INTERESTS-OTIIER ACTIVITIES-AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS-1920 FAIR-POULTRY SIIOW-STATISTICS OF PRODUCTION, 1914-1915-1916-1917-1918- MODERN FARM LIFE-FARM ORGANIZATIONS-YORK COUNTY COMMUNITY ASSO- 532 CIATION


CHAPTER XI YORK COUNTY-INDUSTRIALLY


YORK'S INDUSTRIES, IN 1887-HARRISON NURSERIES-C. S. HARRISON-YORK FOUN- DRY-CANNING FACTORY-YORK'S SUGAR FACTORY DREAM. 563


CHAPTER XII COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF YORK


EARLY COMMERCIAL LIFE-YORK'S FIRMS IN 1886-YORK'S FIRMS IN 1887-THIE TOWN'S CALIBRE-BUILDINGS IN 1887-BLOOMER'S CONSERVATORY OF LUMBER MUSIC-LUMBER MUSIC AND MUSIC OF LUMBER-FIRMS IN 1900-ROSTER OF FIRMS IN 1913-COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS-LIST OF MEMBERS AND BUSINESS MEN, 1921-YORK HOTELS. 523


DALE P. STOUGH


xi


-


THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY


ASTOR, LENGY ANI TILDEN FOUNDATIONS


CHAPTER I


GEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA


CREATIVE PERIODS-THE ARCIEAIC AGE-ERAS IN GEOLOGICAL HISTORY-THE PALEO- ZOIC ERA-THE PERMIAN AGE-THE MESOZOIC AGE-THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD- THE CENOZOIC ERA-THIE TERTIARY AGE-THE QUATERNARY EPOCH-THE GLACIAL PERIOD THE LOESS PERIOD-TIFE SOH SURVEY AND ITS USE-THE SOIL RE- SOURCES AND REGIONS OF NEBRASKA- LOESS REGION-SANDHILL REGION-PHIYS- ICAL FEATURES-RIVERS OF NEBRASKAA-THE MISSOURI- THE PLATTE-THE REPUBLICAN-THIE NIOBRARA-THE WHITE-THE ELKHORN-THE LOUPS-TIFE NEMAHAS-THIE BLUES-THE CLIMATE OF NEBRASKA-NEBRASKA'S GAME RE- SOURCES-MAMMALS OF NEBRASKA-WILD LIFE RESOURCES-WILD GRASS RE- SOURCES-FOREST RESOURCES-WILD FRUITS-FISH RESOURCES-MODERN GAME RESOURCES-FUR BEARING ANIMALS.


"To me it seems that to look on the land that was ever lifted above the wasted waters, to follow the shore where the earliest animals and plants were created when the thought of God first expressed itself in organic form, to hold in one's hand a bit of stone from an old sea-beach, hardened into rock thousands of centuries ago, and studded with the beings that once crept upon its surface or were stranded there by some retreating wave, is even of deeper interest to man than the relies of their own race, for these things tell more directly of the thought and creative aets of God."-Jean Louis Agassiz.


Of course the history of a particular county named in the title of this work, and to the modern history of which the major portion of this work will be devoted, is inseparably wrapped into the history of the State of Nebraska. The history of the State of Nebraska cannot be creditably and comprehensively written withont going further back than its early settlements and embracing a great deal of national history, and perchance even delving back into realms beyond that.


While it does not come within the scope of this work to dwell at any length upon the evolution of our state from the primal rock, it is necessary to go briefly that far back to correctly start the evolution of Nebraska, or any particular county therein.


Since the disenssion of the geological formations of the state and the treatment of its natural resources and features belongs more correctly in the realm of science than of history, only such a treatment of such subjects will be made here as is necessary to carry out the chronology of the development of the state.


CREATIVE PERIODS


Of course, the true history of Nebraska begins with the creative formation of this part of the Western Hemisphere that lies within the boundaries of this state. Likewise, the particular county involved most particularly in this narration gains its first sources from the same forces.


Vol. 1-2


7


S


HISTORY OF NEBRASKA


In the aeons of time since the Creation, our planet, the Earth. has passed through many marvelous changes. We will make no effort, for it stands to reason that we could not, to define at what particular time the creative forces began their operation on our part of the Earth's surface. It is enough to point out briefly that the story of the Creation, as familiar to all readers of this work. brought forth another planet, the Earth. After countless ages slipped away and the first surface of the Earth, a universal, shoreless ocean, so the scientists tell us. cast forth folds of contracting firerock-erest and a surface crust appeared of the first dry land. In the Western World the first lands attributed by some scientists to have appeared were the wedge-shaped Laurentian Highlands, approaching the shores of Hudson Bay, and other strips of land were slowly emerging to the east of the present Appalachians, and also in the western part of the United States stretching from Colorado to California.


THIE ARCHAIC AGE


It was during this first, or Archaean era, that the process of formation hereto- fore partially described took place. It was during that period that our globe started from its position as a companion star to the Sun to pass through its cooling process. The basaltic rocks are believed best to represent the physical character of the earth's crust at the beginning of recorded geologieal history. Some rocks of this epoch are still believed to exist in Canada, 40,000 feet thick. and at least as extensive in the Rocky Mountains and in the Sierras. So far as known. during this period, there was no dry land in Nebraska, but the territory in which we are interested was probably still boundless ocean, so we can pass this period swiftly by.


ERAS IN GEOLOGICAL HISTORY


Before passing to the next era in geological history, it is aptly fitting that we panse a moment and define Geology, and briefly list the various geological periods.


Geology has been defined as the poetry and romance of science. That alone would justify us pansing before we come to the more human manifestations of our historieal narrative. It reveals the causes that make the prosperity of a region pos- sible. It is the somber, undecorative, but highly essential material foundation to the structure we are going to build and weave in this work. We cannot funda- mentally understand the structure of our state without a brief review of this phase of its development.


As now best understood from its roek memorials, to which our scientists turn when making research for this part of our state's history. there have been five great geologieal eras, viz: The Archaean era, of which we have already briefly made a review; the Paleozoic, the Mesozoie, the Cenozoic, and the Psychozoic.


THE PALEOZOIC ERA


This is called the Animal Life era. During this era the areas were gradually enlarged, and myriad forms of strange organisms appeared. Geologists usually divide this aeon into three distinct ages : The Age of Invertebrates-subdivided into the Upper and Lower Silurian eras-when numberless sponges, corals. starfishes, molluska and other strange animal types dominated the ocean depths, and a few


9


HISTORY OF NEBRASKA


terrestrial plants appeared ; the Age of Fishes, or Devonian era, when the ocean plants swarmed with sharks, gar-pikes and turtle-like placoderms of huge size ; and the Carboniferous Age-subdivided into Subcarboniferous, Carboniferous and Permian eras-when coal plants grew and the coal measures were formed.


During neither of the two first named-the age of Invertebrates or Fishes-is land attributed to have formed in the area now occupied by Nebraska. Numerous islands are attributed to have dotted the present states of Illinois, Kentucky, Mis- souri and Iowa, so we are fast approaching the beginning of Nebraska. Likewise, we pass by the Subcarboniferous era, but it is in the Carboniferous era that dry land is believed to have appeared in Nebraska. It was one of the most wonderful ages in the history of the globe, for, during its progress, the thickest, most extensive and most valuable of all the coal beds were formed.


A few brief features of this era will be noted.


Atmosphere. It has been described thus: "A murky, cloudy atmosphere, sur- charged with carbon-dioxide gas, enveloping the earth and giving it a uniform hothouse temperature."


Physical Surface. From Pennsylvania to eastern Nebraska and eentral Kansas, it presented a ehanging view of vast jungles, lakes with floating grove islands, and some dry-land forests.


THIE PERMIAN AGE


This was the closing period of the Paleozoic aeon. The greater part of Nebraska was yet a part of the ocean bed, covered by turbulent waters. This age is really a transition period that ushers in the next great age. The Nebraska area formed in this age covers but a few more counties. Near Beatrice are many exposures of yellowish and bluish magnesian limestone, full of geode cavities, lined with cale-spar, indieating the Permian deposits. The Carboniferous Age was brought to a close by an upward movement of the Continent and this continued through the Permian, until much of the surface water was drained, making it impossible to preserve many memorials of its latter history.


THE MESOZOIC AGE


This, the age of Middle Life, has also been called the Age of Reptiles, "for never in the history of the earth were reptiles so abundant, of such size and variety, or so highly organized as then." This era ineluded three periods: 1. The Triassic, so named for triple rockbeds in Germany; 2. The Jurassic, named after the Jura Mountains, in France ; and 3. The Cretaceous, from the Latin ereta, ehalk, referring to the formation of large chalk beds in England and Continental Europe.


Early scientists tell us that careful examination fails to disclose the least trace of a Juro-Triassic deposit in Nebraska, so we can rather rapidly pass by this period. The same events that prevented a preservation of distinguishable traces of the Permian would, if continued, prevent the deposition of Triassie and Jurassic rocks here. So we may, in a large degree, be certain that during these periods Nebraska had become an extended land surface, and if so, there must have flourished here for countless eenturies the peculiar vegetable and animal life of these times. The length of these periods can be ascertained only relatively. But basing an opinion on the faet that in the Rocky Mountain regions the sediments reach 3,800 feet in thiekness-




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