Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 16

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 16
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 16
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 16
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ported by the census of 1885, was 47,869,978. This shows that less than one-half of the real prop- erty of the State was then subject to taxation. In the agricultural report pertaining to cereals and veg- etables many counties are left out, consequently the aggregate amounts raised in the State in 1888 can- not be given.

The following statement will show the kinds of products raised, total yield and average yield per acre iu four counties, representing different localities of the State, indicating the erops raised therein:

Adams-Corn, 3,096,380 bushels, average, 35 bushels; wheat 298, 104, bushels, average 12; oats 1,512,600 bushels, average 30; barley, 222,728 bushels, average 12; rye, 5,544 bushels, average 11; flax, 9,600 bushels, average 6; millet, 1,100 tons, average 2; potatoes not reported; fruit trees, 9,845; forest trees, 2,561,183; grape vines, 15,479.

Lancaster-Corn, 8,004,900 bushels, average 50; wheat, 170,496 bushels, average 18; oats, 1,930,- 980 bushels, average 60; barley, 23,184 bushels, average 20; rye, 5,400 bushels, average 15; flax, 3,276 bushels, average 12; millet, 2,100 tons, av- erage 3; potatoes, 34,500 bushels, average 172.5; fruit trees, 71,283; forest trees, 2,777,314; grape vines, 1,283.

Lincoln-Corn, 400,000 bushels, average 40; wheat, 15,000 bushels, average 15; oats, 35,000 bushels, average 35; barley, 6,250 bushels, average 25; rye, 8,000 bushels, average 40; millet, 1,000 tons, average 2; potatoes, 80,000 bushels, average 40; trees not reported.

Platte-Corn, 2,672,540 bushels, average 41; wheat, 214,600 bushels, average 10; oats, 1,081,- 850 bushels, average 35; barley, 16,632 bushels, average 12; flax, 17,210 bushels, average, 10; mil- let, 6,480 tons, average 3; potatoes, 121,950 bushels, average 150; fruit trees, 29,145; forest trees, 1,776,000; grape vines 12,125.

The yield per acre of the several products in these counties can be taken as a fair average yield per acre throughout the State. The trees and vines represent the total number planted, and should not be construed as the number planted in 1888.

The total number of animals in the State, and their assessed values in 1888, were as follows:

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

Horses, 372,829, $9,425,542, average $20.21; cattle, 1,505,634, $8,436,940, average $6.08; mules and asses, 43,191, $993,208, average $24.36; sheep, 195,105, $105,830, average $0.50; hogs, 1,238,731, $1,318,975, average $1.17. The average value of each animal is the average throughout the State, but not uniform in the several counties. The assessed valnes are very unequal throughout the State. Land in some counties is assessed for taxation at nearly twice the price it is in other counties where the soil and shipping facilities are equally as good, and the same is true with regard to animals; for instance, in 1888, horses were assessed in Lancaster County at $17.11, and in Loup County at $29.29. Are they so much more valuable in Loup than in Lan- caster County? At the same time cattle were assessed per head at from $2.66 up to $13.06; mules and asses at from $11.80 up to $46.75; sheep at from ten cents up to $1.42. This shows that strin- gent legislation is needed in order to secure greater uniformity in the assessment of property.

The value of the taxable property of the State, as assessed for taxation from 1881 to 1888 inclusive, has been as follows: In 1881, $93,142,456.99; in 1882, $98,537,475.11; in 1883, $110,543,644.58; in 1884, $123,615,886.95; in 1885, $133,418, 699.83; in 1886, $143,932,570.51; in 1887, $160,506,- 266.25; in 1888, $176,012,820.45.

No official report for 1889 has been published. The increase in the values from year to year, also for the whole eight years-the latter being $82,870,- 363.47, is noticeable. It is seen that in the short time of eight years the entire taxable wealth of the State nearly doubled. The next biennial report, in- cluding 1889 and 1890, will show that in the ten years the property considerably more than doubled in value.

Winter wheat is grown in Nebraska to a limited extent by drilling it between corn rows, with a five- hoed, one horse wheat-corn drill, and leaving the corn stalks stand until spring, when they are cut down. The stalks are left to hold the snow, and thus prevent the ground from freezing dry and kill- ing the wheat. On account of the difficulty to raise winter wheat, spring wheat is generally raised, and it is claimed that it is superior to the former for

bread. Corn is the great staple product, but the soil is well adapted to the raising of all kinds of grains and vegetables. The cultivation of the sugar beet, for the purpose of sugar making, has been in- troduced, and in all probability the day is not far distant when our sugar will be manufactured at home instead of being imported from foreign coun- tries.

The conditions for successful agriculture are a rich soil, temperate climate and sufficient moisture. Time and experience have removed all doubt as to the existence of the first two in Nebraska, and will soon remove all doubt as to the third.

In 1880, Samuel Aughey, Ph. D., LL. D., profes- sor of natural sciences in the University of Nebraska, published his "Sketches of the Physical Geography and Geology of Nebraska, " in which he says " Eastern Nebraska has an abundance of moisture. This may appear like an exaggeration to those who were edu- cated to believe that Nebraska was an arid region. And yet there is nothing in the natural history of the State better established than that there is here an abundance of rainfall. When the snows of winter disappear, the ground is in good condition to be worked. Sufficient showers come during early spring to excite the crops of cereal grains, grasses and corn to an active growth. Sometimes it is compar- atively dry between the spring showers and the June rains. These come sometimes earlier than June, in the last of May, and sometimes not till the last of June, and constitute the rainy season for the State. It begins whenever the ' big rise' of the Missouri and the Platte occur. This rainy season lasts from four to eight weeks. In fifteen years I have not known it to fail. During its continuance it does not indeed rain every day, except occasionally for a short period. Generally during this time it rains from two to three times a week. It is more apt to rain every night than every day. In fact during the whole of this season three-fourths of the rain falls at night. It is not an unusual occurrence for the rain to fall every night for weeks, followed by cloud- less days. This rainy season of June occurs at a period when crops most need rain, and owing to the regularity of its occurrence, drouths sufficiently severe to destroy the crops in Eastern Nebraska,

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

where there is proper cultivation, have not yet been known. * After the wet season of * June, which sometimes extends into July, is over, there are rains and showers at longer intervals until and during autumn. During winter it rarely rains. Snow falls in winter, but seldom to a great depth. * *

* West of the one hundredth meridian the amount of rainfall gradually decreases from the yearly average of thirty inches, at or near Kearney Junction, to twenty inches at North Platte. If the last two years only were taken into account, even there and almost to the west line of the State the rainfall would be estimated at thirty inches."

The professor goes on to prove that the amount of rainfall and moisture was on the increase, and it certainly has been on the increase ever since. Many springs have broken out of late years where no water had ever before been observed, and water has ap- peared in old creek beds, where it apparently had not been flowing for ages. The streams have also been observed to increase in size. Much specula- tion has been indulged in as to the cause of the in- erease of the rainfall, but it is believed that the principal cause is " the great increase in the absorp- tive power of the soil, wrought by cultivation. Observe now the change which cultivation makes. After the soil is broken, the rain as it falls is ab- sorbed by the soil like a hugh sponge. The soil gives this absorbed moisture back to the atmosphere by evaporation. Thus year by year as cultivation of the soil is extended, more of the rain that falls is absorbed and retained to be given off by evapora- tion, or to produce springs. This, of course, must give increasing moisture and rainfall." The plant- ing of trees is also believed to be a helping cause for the increase of moisture.

Nebraska, on account of its elevation and the non-existence of swamps and stagnant waters, which produce malaria, is decidedly healthful. The atmos- phere is pure and invigorating. The elevation in feet above sea level, at various points throughout the State, as shown in Prof. Aughey's sketches above referred to, is as follows:

Southeast corner of the State on the bottoms at the month of the Nemaha River, 878; Nebraska City, 964; Plattsmouth, 984; Omaha, Union Pacific

Depot, 1,056; Blair, 1,111; Fremont, 1,220; Schuy- ler, 1,372; Columbus, 1,469; Grand Island, 1,887: Kearney, 2,143; North Platte, 2,825; Sidney, 4,108; Pine Bluffs, 5,061; Norfolk, 1,428; Beatrice, 1,278; Orleans, 2,150; head of the Republican in Colorado, 4,050; Lincoln, 1,164; Fairmount, 1,657; Harvard, 1,815; Juniata, 1,985; Kenesaw, 2,064; Lowell, 2,086; Camp Sheridan, Old Spotted Tail Agency, 3.490; Indian Creek, northwest corner of State, 4,013; Scott's Bluffs, thirty miles north of Pine Bluffs, 6,051; White Man's Fork, on State line, south of Union Pacific Railroad, 3,188. It is esti- mated that the eastern half of the State along the line of the Union Pacific has an average elevation of 1,700 feet; the western half, 3,525 feet. The aver- age elevation along the whole line would be 2,612 feet. The average elevation of the whole State is estimated at 2,312 feet.

While Nebraska does not claim to be a manufac- turing State, some of its leading cities are making gigantic strides in that direction. The Omaha Daily Bee of January 1, 1890, speaks of the manufactur- ing interests of that progressive city as follows:

"Omaha is making great progress as an indus- trial center. Its silver refining and smelting works, machine shops, foundries, white lead works, chair factory, wire mills, linseed oil works, distillery, boot and shoe factory and a score of other industrial concerns that have been established in this city within the past two years, give employment to an army of wage workers numbering fully 11,000.

Omaha now contains several of the most exten- sive manufacturing establishments in all America. Its silver smelting works are the largest works of this class in the world; its linseed oil works rival in magnitude with the largest oil mills in America, and its distillery ranks as the fourth largest in the United States. Its beef and hog product packing houses are only second in capacity to those of Chi- cago.

The Paxton & Vierling Iron Works is one of the leading manufacturing enterprises of Omaha. In 1889 $300,000 worth of goods were manufactured, employing 200 men with a weekly pay roll of $1,750.

The Omaha Barb Wire Company, owing to con-

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

stantly increasing business, were compelled to erect, a few years ago, more commodious works. The product is sold all over the West and they have a capacity for turning out four car loads of barbed wire and 100 kegs of nails each day. They keep sixty men constantly employed, and have a weekly pay roll of $750.' Of the other iron works the Acme Iron and Wire Works has 5 employes; Wilson & Beemer Iron Works, 40; Carter & Son Boiler Works, 15; Wearne Bros'. Foundry, 10; Western Cornice Works, 53; Acme Iron Works, 7; Omaha Cornice Works, 25; McBreen & Carter, 6; Eagle Cornice Works, 40; Davis & Cowgill, 30; Champion Iron and Wire Works, 12; Eureka Iron Foundry, 14; McLearie & Oehlrie Foundry, 15. Total number employes, including Barb Wire Works and Paxton & Vierling, 593; total weekly pay rolls, $6, 495.

The Omaha & Grant Smelting and Refining Works handle a large proportion of the ore produced in the mines of Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Dakota and Arizona. The plant covers over twenty-two acres of ground and represents an investment of $3,500,000. It is the largest silver smelting and refining institution in the world. During the year 50,107 tons of ore were smelted. The average number of employes is 600, who are paid $30,000 monthly, or about $380,000 annually. The immen- sity of the annual business of this great industry is clearly shown by the following statement for the eleven months of 1889, ending November 30:

Value.

Lead, Ib

74,742,713

$ 2,721,145.50

Silver, oz.

11,957,977

10,840,059.87

Gold, oz.

112,531 2,289,370.03

Sulphate of copper.

5,886,500 294,000.00

Mention is made on a previous page of the ex- tent of the Union Pacific Shops, employing the larg- est number of men in Omaha.

The Willow Springs Distillery is the third largest in America. The buildings are substantially erected and cover an area of eight acres. The distillery did a business in 1889 of $3,300,000, and paid in sal- aries $93,360. Taxes were paid the government on the product amounting to $2,880,000. Four thous- and cattle were fed, 700,512 bushels of grain mashed and 4,000 tons of hay used. The coal con- sumption was 144,000 tons and 45, 600 barrels were

used. One hundred and twenty-five men are em- ployed at the distillery. The rectifying firm of Iler & Co., which is connected with the Willow Springs Distillery Company, has $500,000 invested in the enterprise, and occupies extensive premises on Harney Street, where a large wholesale liquor establishment is also carried on.

Next in importance to Omaha in the line of man- ufacturing is the city of Lincoln, where a great many establishments have been erected and put into operation. All the other leading cities of the State and many of the smaller ones have their local man- ufactories, some mechanical interests being yet in their infancy. The number of manufactories in the State, in 1880, was 1,403, with an invested capital of $4,881,150, increased in 1885 to 2,861, with an invested capital of $12,722,334. In the five years the number and invested capital more than doubled.

From the report of the secretary of State there has been obtained an official directory of Nebraska's public servants, which is here presented, with begin- ning of term of service:

Governors: Francis Burt, October 16, 1854; Mark W. Izard, February 20, 1855; William A. Richardson, January 12, 1858; Samuel W. Black, May 2, 1858; Alvin Saunders, May 15, 1861; David Butler, February 21, 1867; Robert W. Furnas, January 13, 1873; Silas Garber, January 11, 1875; Albinus Nance, January 9, 1879; James W. Dawes, January 4, 1883; John M. Thayer, January 6, 1887.

Lieutenant governors: Othman A. Abbot, Janu- ary 4, 1877; Edmund C. Carns, January 9, 1879; A. W. Agee, January 4, 1883; H. H. Shedd, Janu- ary 8, 1885; George D. Meiklejohn, January 3, 1889.

Secretaries: Thomas B. Cuming, August 3, 1854; John B. Motley, March 23, 1858; J. Sterling Morton, July 12, 1858; Algernon S. Paddock, May 6, 1861; Thomas P. Kennard, February 21, 1867; William H. James, January 10, 1871; John J. Gosper, January 13, 1873; Bruno Tzschuck, Janu- ary 11, 1875; S. J. Alexander, January 7, 1879; Edward P. Roggen, January 4, 1883; Gilbert L. Laws, January 6, 1887.

Auditors: Charles B. Smith, March 16, 1855;

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

Samuel L. Campbell. August 3, 1857; William E. Moore, June 1, 1858; Robert C. Jordan, August 2, 1858; William E. Harvey, October 8, 1861; John Gillespie, October 10, 1865; Jefferson B. Weston, January 13, 1873; F. W. Liedtke, January 9, 1879; John Wallichs, November 12, 1880; H. A. Bab- cock, January 8, 1885; T. H. Benton, January 3, 1889.

Treasurers: B. P. Rankin, March 16, 1855; William W. Wyman, November 6, 1855; Augustus Kountze, October 8, 1861; James Sweet, January 11, 1869; Henry A. Koenig, January 10, 1871; J. C. McBride, January 11, 1875; George M. Bart- lett, January 9, 1879; Phelps D. Sturtevant, Janu- ary 4, 1883; Charles H. Willard, January 8, 1885; J. E. Hill, January 3, 1889.

Librarians: James S. Izard, March 16, 1855; H. C. Anderson, November 6, 1855; John H. Kellum, August 3, 1857; Alonzo D. Luce, Novem- ber 7, 1859; Robert S. Knox, 1861; Thomas P. Kennard, June 22, 1867; William H. James, Janu- ary 10, 1871; Guy A. Brown, March 3, 1871.

Attorney generals: Champion S. Case, 1867; Seth Robinson, 1869; George H. Roberts, January 10, 1871; J. R. Webster, January 13, 1873; George H. Roberts, January 11, 1875; C. J. Dilworth, Jan- uary 9, 1879; Isaac Powers, Jr., January 4, 1883; William Leese, January 8, 1885.

Superintendents of public instruction: Seth W. Beals, 1869; J. M. Mckenzie, January 10, 1871; S. R. Thompson, January 4, 1877; W. W. W. Jones, January 6, 1881; George B. Lane, January 6, 1887.

Commissioners of public lands and buildings: F. M. Davis, January 4, 1877; A. G. Kendall, Janu- ary 6, 1881; Joseph Scott, January 8, 1885; John Steen, January 3, 1889.

Judges of supreme court-chief justices: Fen- ner Ferguson, October 12, 1854; Augustus Hall, March 15, 1858; William Pitt Kellogg, May 27, 1861; William Kellogg, May 8, 1865; William A. Little, 1866; Oliver P. Mason, 1866; George B. Lake, January 16, 1873; Daniel Gantt, January 3, 1878; Samuel Maxwell, May 29, 1878; George B. Lake, January 1, 1882; Amasa Cobb, January 1, 1884; Samuel Maxwell, January 1, 1886; M. B. Reese, January 1, 1888.

Associate justices and judges: Edward R. Ilar- den, December 4, 1854; James Bradley, October 25, 1854; Samuel W. Black; Eleazer Wakeley, April 22, 1857; Joseph Miller, April 9, 1859; Wil- . liam F. Lockwood, May 16, 1861; Joseph E. Streeter, November 18, 1861; Elmer S. Dundy, June 22, 1863; George B. Lake, February 21, 1867; Lorenzo Crounse, February 21, 1867; Daniel Gantt, January 16, 1873; Samuel Maxwell, January 16, 1873; Amasa Cobb, May 29, 1878; MI. B. Reese, January 1, 1884.

Clerks of supreme court: H. C. Anderson, 1856; Charles L. Salisbury, 1858; E. B. Chandler, 1859; John H. Kellom, 1861; William Kellogg, Jr., 1865; George Armstrong, 1867; Guy A. Brown, August 8, 1868.

Reporters of supreme court: J. M. Woolworth, 1870; Lorenzo Crounse, 1873; Guy A. Brown, 1875.

Delegates and members of Congress: Napoleon B. Giddings, December 12, 1854; Bird B. Chapman, November 6, 1855; Fenner Ferguson, August 3, 1857; Experience Estabrook, October 11, 1859; Samuel G. Daily, October 9, 1860; Phineas W. Hitchcock, October 11, 1864; T. M. Marquette, March 2, 1866; John Taffe, October 9, 1867; Lor- enzo Crounse, October 8, 1872; Frank Welch, No- vember 7, 1876; Thomas J. Majors, December, 1877; E. K. Valentine, November 5, 1878; A. J. Weaver, March 4, 1883; James Laird, March 4, 1883; George W. E. Dorsey, March 4, 1885; John A. MeShane, March 4, 1887.

United States Senators: Jolm M. Thayer, 1867- 71; Thomas W. Tipton, 1867-75; Phineas W. Hitch- cock, 1871-77; Algernon S. Paddock, 1875-81; Alvin Saunders, 1877-83; C. H. Van Wyck, 1881-87; Charles F. Manderson, 1883-89; Algeruon S. Pad- dock, 1887-93.

United States marshals: Mark W. Izard, Octo- ber 28, 1854: Eli R. Doyle, April 7, 1855; Ben- jamin P. Rankin, March 29, 1856; Phineas W. Hitchcock, September 19, 1861; Casper E. Fost, April 1, 1865; J. T. Hoile, July 1, 1869; William Daily, 1871; Ellis Bierbower, 1880.

The following abstract of votes cast for presi- dential candidates since Nebraska's admission into the Union will be of interest: 1868, Ulysses S.

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

Grant (R), 9,782; Horatio D. Seymour (D), 5,519; 1872, Ulysses S. Grant (R), 17,702; Horace Greeley (D), 7,548; 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes (R), 31,833; · Samuel J. Tilden (D), 17,554; 1880, James A. Gar- field (R), 54,979; Winfield S. Hancock (D), 28,523; Gen. Weaver (Nat), 3,950; 1884, James G. Blaine (R), 76,912; Butler and Cleveland (Fusion-D), 54,391; John P. St. John (P), 2,899; 1888, Ben- jamin Harrison (R), 108,425; Grover Cleveland (D), 80,552; Fiske (P), 9,429; Streeter (U. L), 4,226.

The popular vote for governor has been :. 1866, David Butler, 4,093; J. Sterling Morton, 3,948; 1868, David Butler, 8,576; J. R. Porter, 6,349; 1870, David Butler, 11,126; John H. Croxton, 8,648; 1872, Robert W. Furnas, 16,543; Henry C. Lett, 11,227; 1874, Silas Garber, 21,568; Albert Tuxbury, 8,025; J. F. Gardner, 4,059; J. S. Church, 1,346; 1876, Silas Garber, 31,947; Paren England, 17,219; J. F. Gardner, 3,022; scattering, 36; 1878, Albinus Nance, 29,469; W. H. Webster, 13,473; Levi G. Todd, 9,475; 1880, Albinus Nance, 55,237; T. W. Tipton, 28,167; O. T. B. Williams, 3,898; scattering, 43; 1882, James W. Daws, 43,495; J. Sterling Morton, 28,562; E. P. Ingersoll, 16,991; scattering, 30; 1884, James W. Daws, 72,835; J. S. Morton, 57,634; J. G. Miller, 3,075; scattering, 11; 1886, John M. Thayer, 75,956; James E. North, 52,656; H. H. Hardy, 8,175; J. Burrows, 1,422; scattering, 30; 1888, John M. Thayer, 103,983; John A. McShane, 85,420; George E. Bigelow, 9,511; David Butler, 3,941; scattering, 10.

Congressional candidates in the several Congres- sional districts at the general elections in November, 1882, 1884, 1886 and 1888, received the following votes. In the First district, composed of the coun- ties of Cass, Douglas, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Sarpy and Saunders: 1882, A. J. Weaver (R), 17,022; John I. Redick (D), 12,690; W. S. Gilbert (P), 3,707; 1884, A. J. Weaver (R), 22,644; Charles H. Brown (D), 21,669; E. J. O'Neil (1), 1,024; 1886, Church Howe (R), 16,373; John A. McShane (D), 23,396; George Bigelow (P), 2,876; 1888, W. J. Connell (R), 32,926; J. S. Morton (D), 29,519; Edwin B. Graham (P), 2,962; J. W. Edgerton (U. L), 650.

In the Second district, composed of the counties

of Adams, Butler, Chase, Clay, Duudy, Fillmore, Furnas, Franklin, Frontier, Gasper, Hamilton, Har- lan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Jefferson, Kearney, Nuck- olls, Phelps, Polk, Red Willow, Saline, Seward, Thayer, Webster and York, in 1882 James Laird (R) received 12,983 votes; V. S. Moore (D), 10,012; F. A. Harman (D), 3,060; 1884, James Laird (R), 21,182; J. H. Stickel (D), 17,650; B. Crabb (P), 1,176; 1886, James Laird (R), 21,373; W. A. Mc- Keighan (D), 16,315; C. S. Harrison (P), 3,789; 1888, James Laird (R), 30,959; W. G. Hastings (D), 21,207; George Scott (P), 4,128; H. H. Rohr (U. L), 1,590.

The Third district is composed of the counties of Antelope, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Brown, Buf- falo, Burt, Cedar, Cheyenne, Cherry, Colfax, Cum- ing, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dixon, Dodge, Dawson, Grant, Greeley, Garfield, Hall, Holt, Howard, Keya Paha, Keith, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, Madison, Merrick, Nance, Perkins, Pierce, Platte, Sioux, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Thomas, Val- ley, Washington, Wayne and Wheeler. The votes cast in the district have been, in 1882, F. K. Valen- tine (R), 11,284; M. K. Turner (D), 7,342; W. H. Munger (D), 9,932; 1884, G. W. E. Dorsey (R), 25,985; William Neville (D), 20,871; Albert Felch (P), 572; 1886, G. W. E. Dorsey (R), 28,717; A. H. Webster (D), 20,943; W. J. Olinger (P), 2,583; 1888, G. W. E. Dorsey (R), 42,288; E. P. Weath- erby (D), 31,128; A. M. Walling (P), 2,995; F. O. Jones (U. L), 1,487.

. The population of the Territory and State of Ne- braska at the different years mentioned has been as follows: 1855, 4,494; 1856, 10,716; 1860, 28,841; 1870, 122,993; 1874, 230, 007; 1875, 246,280; 1876, 257,747; 1878, 313,748; 1880, 452,542; 1885, 740,- 645. According to the rate of increase from 1880 to 1885, the population of 1890 will be about 1,200,000, though owing to the increased facilities for immigraion, it may exceed that estimate.

As has been the case in all or nearly all newly settled portions of America, ministers of the Gospel accompanied the pioneer settlers to the Territory of Nebraska and began preaching the Word of God; and, in proportion as the Territory and State has in- creased in population, religious organizations have

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

been established and church edifices have been erected. In several older States the Methodists and Baptists were, for some years, the pioneer Christian workers; but this cannot be said of Nebraska, for, with its settlement, side by side with the ministers of these denominations were the preachers of the Presbyterian, Christian, Disciple, and other churches.

It is probable that the United States garrison, stationed where Nebraska City now stands, was favored with religious services by a chaplain several years before the settlement of the Territory began. Early in the spring of 1854, Rev. William D. Gage, a Methodist missionary, began regular preaching in Nebraska City. A frame "meeting house " was erected soon thereafter. The following year the Methodist and Baptist denominations each organized a church with several constituent members. The first was under the supervision of Rev. Gage, and the members were Rev. Gage himself and wife, Mattie Gage, William Walker and wife, M. Ridden and Mrs. Rowena Craig. The second was under the supervision of Rev. J. C. Renfro, and the mem- bers were B. B. Belcher, Samuel Findley, Edward McHenry, Lucinda Nuckolls, Mary Ann Belcher, Lavison Cook and Caroline Thomas. The same year, 1855, a church was organized in Nebraska City by the Presbyterians, under the supervision of Revs. H. M. Giltner, a missionary, and L. G. Bell, of Sidney, Iowa. The constituent members were D. F. Jackson and wife, W. B. Hall and wife, Mrs. Harriet Anderson, Mrs. Mary Cowles, Mrs. Cath- arine Cowles, Miss Maggie J. Martin, Solomon Martin, David Martin, W. S. Van Doren, Dr. J. C. Campbell, Miss Emily Lorton, Miss Nancy Pearman and Mrs. S. E. Giltner.

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Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820