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 17

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 17
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 17
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 17
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 17

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).

The Christian Church, organized in Brownville in January, 1855, by Elder Joel M. Woods, is said to have been the first organized religious body in the Territory, except the Indian Mission. In 1858 the Methodist Episcopal, Congregational, Presbyterian and Baptist Churches each organized societies in Brownville. In 1855, the next year after the site of Omaha was settled, a religious awakening took place there under the preaching of Revs. Koulmer, Isaac F. Collins, William Leach, Moses F. Shinn and Reuben Gaylord.

" The latter was one of the foremost and most infinential of the holy men who came into the wil- dlerness and assisted in shaping the religions des- tiny, not alone of Omaha, but of Nebraska and the West. He was born in the State of Connecticut, where a mother's instruction and prayers dirceted his opening powers and led to an early consecration to God. Upon his graduation, he passed twenty years in Iowa, laying the foundations of his church in that State, whence he came to Omaha on a pros- peeting tour. At that time there was no church or- ganization of his denomination, nor house of wor- ship of any other religious association, He imme- diately entered upon his duties as a minister, and preached in the old capitol building on Ninth Street. On the first Sabbath in May, 1856, he organized a Congregational Church with nine members, holding services in the dining-room of the Douglas Ilouse. He soon inaugurated measures for the erection of a church edifice, which was completed and dedicated in 1857, and after a service in the pastures of the Lord for nearly a third of a century, he passed away. He died in 1880, respected as a minister of the Gospel for his talents and Christian virtues, not more than for his work as a man in public and pri- vate life."

" Foremost also among those who came in the same cause during 1855, was the Rev. W. Emmonds, of Council Bluffs, who enjoys the distinction of having been the first Catholic clergyman in the Ter- ritory of Nebraska. He came for the purpose of attending to the wants of the Catholics in Omaha, but finding no accommodations for the performance of his sacred duties, he was compelled to return to Council Bluffs, whither at intervals devont Catholics on this side were forced to repair to attend mass and approach the sacraments. During the latter part of the year, it is claimed that mass was said in the Representative chamber of the old capitol, while others insist that the services were held at the resi- (lence of the Hon. T. B. Cuming, corner of Dodge and Eighteenth Streets. Be this as it may, no church was determined upon until June, 1856, when Thomas O'Connor, James Ferry and Vincent Burk- ley were appointed a committee to solicit subserip- tions."-[Andreas' History of Nebraska. ] The

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church edifice, a small brick building, was erected before the year closed.

In 1855 the Methodists held services at Archer, the original county seat of Richardson County, and the same year a class was organized at the home of Henry Shellhorn on South Fork, in Pawnee County. Rev. David Hart was the pioneer Methodist preacher in this extreme southeastern part of the State. Also in 1855, a Presbyterian Church was organized at Bellevue, in Sarpy County, by Rev. William Ham- ilton. The following year Rev. I. E. Heaton, of the Congregational Church, commenced preaching at Fremont, and in 1857 a Congregational and a Methodist Church were organized at that place.

Prior to 1854 only a few points in the Territory now composing the State of Nebraska had been permanently settled, and not a sufficient number of individuals had settled at any particular place to organize a church. But during that and the follow- ing year there seems to have been a large immigra- tion to the Territory, and it is remarkable how rapidly religious denominations began to organize churches. The denominations mentioned in the foregoing may be considered the pioneers in inaugu- rating Christian work in the new Territory. All of them have grown strong in numbers and in property, and it is to be hoped equally as strong in their zeal to advance the cause of Christianity. In 1857-58, especially in the latter year, many new churches mostly by the denominations mentioned were organ- ized. But few if any other denominations organ- ized societies in the Territory prior to 1860. In this year, on August 3, Bishop Talbot, of the Episcopal Church, held services in Plattsmouth, and the society organized by him received its regular supply the following year in the person of Rev. Isaac A. Hager, who commenced his work June 16. The St. James Episcopal Church of Bellevue was organized in 1861, by Rev. I. A. Hager. Services were held at differ- ent points until 1867, when the name of the society was changed from St. James to Holy Trinity, and the work of erecting an edifice begun. In the fall of 1863, Episcopal services were held in Brown- ville, by Rt. Rev. J. C. Talbot, the second mission- ary bishop of the diocese, and a society still exist- ing was organized. Bishop Talbot and Rev. O. C.

Dake held the first Episcopal service in Fremont, July 14, 1865, from which time Dr. Dake became the settled pastor. This denomination has since organized many societies throughout the State, and become prominent in religious work. In 1860 Roman Catholic services were first held in Platts- mouth, and the following year a church edifice was erected. In 1868 Bishop O'Gorman organized a Roman Catholic Church in Lincoln, and in 1879 the church of St. Theresa, one of the largest and hand- somest structures in the city, was erected. Many Catholic churches, especially in the larger cities and towns of the State, now exist, the memberships con- sisting largely of citizens from the old country.

In 1866 a society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized at Nebraska City; but as there has only been a sprinkling of immigrants from the South, this denomination has not be- come prominent in the State. German Methodist Episcopal, German Presbyterian, Evangelical Luth- eran and United Brethren Churches have been or- ganized in some of the larger cities. The Univer- salist Church organized a society at Lincoln, Sep- tember 1, 1870. Rev. James Gorton was the first pastor. Their church building, completed in June, 1872, was the first one erected in Nebraska by Uni- versalists. There are but few organizations of this denomination within the State. In a few cities of the State, where there is a considerable population of colored poeple, Colored Methodist, Colored Baptist and African Methodist Churches have been established. At a few points in the State the Sev- enth Day Adventists have colonized themselves and organized and established churches; but they are not numerically strong throughout this locality. Other denominations, not herein named, have also organ- ized religious societies.

Numerically the Methodist Episcopal Church is the strongest in Nebraska, having at this time (March, 1890) a membership of about 35,000. The original Nebraska conference of this denomination, organized in 1860, embraced all that portion of the State lying east of the line between Ranges 12 and 13 west. This line forms the western boundary of Webster, Adams, Hall, Howard, Greeley and Wheeler Counties. All that portion of the State

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lying west thereof was made a mission district. In 1881 the Nebraska conference was divided by the Platte River from its mouth to the line dividing Townships 15 and 16 north; thence west on this line to the point where it again crosses the river; thence up the river to the western boundary of the conference. All lying south of this line retained the original name " Nebraska Conference," and all lying north thereof was made to constitute a new conference by the name of the " North Nebraska Conference." Since that time the mission district, above described, has been erected into conference. and named "West Nebraska Conference." The twenty-ninth session of the Nebraska Annual Con- ference was held at York, October 2, 3, 4 and 5, 1889, Bishop John H. Vincent, presiding. The thirtieth annual session of this conference will be held at Hastings.

A detailed history of individual church organiza- tions will appear in the county histories.

The best history of Nebraska is found in the columns of the newspapers which were founded with the first settlement of the Territory. The history of the newspapers of Nebraska would alone fill a vol- ume. The rapid development of the State is due largely to their efforts, and no State in the Union can boast of a better class of newspapers or a more intelligent and enterprising class of publishers. The first newspaper published in Nebraska was the Palladium and Platte Valley Advocate, issued on

November 14, 1854, by Thomas Morton, D. E. Reed & Co. It preceded the publication of the Arrow but a few days, the latter paper being issued at Omaha on November 28, 1854. The Nebraska City News was established in 1855, with J. Sterling Morton at the editorial helm. As the Territory in- creased in population the number of newspapers in- creased. Journalism has not only kept pace with progress in Nebraska, but has actually preceded it, and to-day nearly every village has its local publi- cation, while the larger towns and cities support from two to twenty and more papers. The leading daily papers of Omaha are the Bee, the World-Her- ald, the Republican and the Democrat. These papers will compare favorably with the best daily newspapers of the country, especially the Bee, which out-ranks all Western journalistic efforts. Lincoln has the Daily State Journal, Daily News and Daily Call. Fremont has two dailies, the Tribune and the Herald. The Express and Democrat, both dailies, are able exponents of Beatrice. Nebraska City has the Daily Press and the Daily News. Grand Island supports the Daily Independent, while Hastings is represented by the Daily Nebraskan. Kearney gives a liberal support to the Enterprise, the Hub and the Journal, all dailies. Plattsmouth supports two dailies, while Columbus, York, Broken Bow and Red Cloud each boast of enterprising daily publica- tions. The weekly publications of Nebraska num- ber into the hundreds.

BEFORE

QUALITY

THE LAW

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ADAMS COUNTY.

CHAPTER XII.

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH-LOCATION AND AREA-POPULATION-ADAPTABILITY TO AGRICULTURE-PHYSICAL FEA- TURES-NATURAL GAS-CLIMATIC FEATURES- GAME-FREMONT'S TRAVELS-KIT CARSON-THIE GOVERNMENT WELL-INDIAN TREATIES-" BILL " KRESS-SOME FIRST THINGS- PIONEERS-ORIGINAL TAX ROLL-SETTLERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

"The past is theirs-the future ours; And we must learn and teach. * * They had no model, but they left us one."

DAMS County is one of the divisions of Nebraska in the second tier of counties north of the Kansas line, 120 miles west of the Mis- souri River. Its Congres- sional description is- Townships 5, 6, 7 and 8, in Ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12, west of the sixth princi- pal meridian, almost midway between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and 21 degrees and 20 degrees west longi- tude. The area is 576 square miles or 368,640 acres. The elevation above sea level at Hansen is 1,949 feet, at Hastings 1,934, at Pauline 1,777, at Roseland 1,969; Holstein 2,011 and Leroy 1,860. The pop- ulation in 1870 was 19; in 1874, 2,694; in 1875, 3,093; in 1876, 3,940; in 1878, 5,583; in 1879, 8,162; in 1880,* 10,239; in 1885, 18,002; while, in 1889, it was estimated at 25,000.

In 1873 the pioneer agriculturists were firmly established and every township gave evidence of its possibilities. There were scarcely a thousand per- sons in the fields of Adams County at the time; but the news of success of the fortunate ones soon spread abroad and, by the spring of 1874, over 1,500 persons came to share in the fortunes of the pioneers. All became evangelists of faith in Ne- braska and, notwithstanding the difficulty of setting aside the ideas of the "Great American Desert," inculcated for 30 years, aud based on the reports of the Pathfinder, Fremont, the teachings of the new doctrine were well received and answered by almost a thousand more in 1874-75. Then the great truth spread out that Fremont's desert lay west of longi- tude 23 degrees, aud his description, even then, was only applicable in part; for, when supplied with water to make up for the limited rainfall, that por- tion of the State west of longitude 23 degrees is highly productive and its fecundity proverbial. For a thousand years its natural grasses have insured to the great herds of buffalo a pasturage at once abundant and rich in such parts as support animal life, and, when the humid region of Nebraska is

*In 1880 Adams County was divided into nine districts for the purpose of census enumeration, and the following named citizens were appointed enumerators: C. H. Paul, A. J. Oren- dorf, I. W. Cramer, Rev. H. A. Guild, W. Darling, H. N. Crone. R. L. Miles, A. C. Moore, and D. Sinclair.

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

filled to overflowing, that section of the State and adjoining territory, comprising 100,000,000 acres of arid lands, will become the home of industry.

The Little Blue rises in Kearney County, but the greater number of its sources are found in Adams County. Its course in Nebraska is about 110 miles. It receives the Big Sandy in Jefferson County, and flows into the Big Blue south of the State line. In its beautiful valley a few of the early settlements of the State were made, and in later years the sanguinary Sioux enacted many of their tragedies along its course. The head streams of the Little Blue give to the greater portion of Adams County many advantages-except in the neighbor- hood of Kenesaw, they give a stream to almost every section. Pawnee, Sandy, Thirty-two Mile and Cot- tonwood Creeks are the principal feeders of this river. The northwestern townships of the county are drained by the Platte, the south channel of which occupies the extreme northwest corner. * The divide between the Republican and the Little Blue is almost on the line between Webster and Adams Counties.

The Chamberlain well phenomena, the disturb- ances in the well on the Jones farm, north of the city, the escape of gas above the village of St. Paul, and the gas spring near Omaha, drew the attention of the people to the existence of natural gas under the prairies.

One of the most thorough explorations of strata, made in Central Nebraska, was begun in August, 1889, and completed to 1,040 feet on December 6, 1889, when George Haller, who kept a record of strata, reported to the Tribune: From 125 feet to 230 feet an extensive bed of sand and water was found. At 230 feet the great bed of yellow ochre was discovered. By a good many this was thought to be a glazier formation. At 260 to 270 feet the ochre began to have a gray color. At 280 feet a light colored shale was found with a few thin streaks of gray spar. This shale extends to a depth of 430 feet, more or less darker at different depths. Here a formation of gypsum and limestone was passed

through, it being probably a foot and a half thick. A small flow of water was then struck; then the shale again. It continued to show small deposits of iron pyrites, and then thin stratas of limestone, with occasionally a small streak of gray spar. This formation continued until a depth of 805 was reached, but from 805 to 950 feet shale predominated. Then about seven feet of very thin limestone were passed through; then about twenty feet of shale gypsum ; then about twenty feet of " gumbo" shale. At 900 feet from five to six feet of gypsum, then shale, dry spar and limestone until a depth of 925 was reached. Here a vein of water and a little sand were observed for the first time after leaving the large bed of sand. From 925 to 942} feet, at which latter point the great salt bed was struck, a soft "gumbo" like shale, getting softer near the salt. From 942} to 987} the salt bed. After leaving the salt, sand- stone was found. From 400 feet down the gas odor was stronger as the distance increased until the salt was struck. Another fact is that more or less small pieces of iron pyrites were found all the way from 300 to 930 feet. What future boring may develop is an unknown quantity-the enterprise of business men must find it out-the scientific man can only speculate.

Joseph Horgan discovered a large deposit of calcine on his farm in June, 1873.

The seasons are delightful. No killing frosts in the spring are likely in Nebraska after April 16, and no frost after May 14; in the fall, during seven- teen years, the average date of killing frosts is October 7; slight frost, September 23. The hottest month is July, the coldest, February. Grass has started so as to change the aspect of the prairie by April 9, and by April 29 will yield cattle a full sup- port. The cold weather begins in January and con- tinues until April. On January 1, 1883, the ther- mometer registered 8 degrees below at Hastings; on the 7th, 14th and 18th was at zero, while on the 19th it was 30 degrees below; on the 20th, 26 de- grees, and 21st, 16 degrees below. On January 1, 1884, it was 10 degrees below, and on the 5th and 24th, 18 degrees below. It fell to 26 degrees on January 1, 1885, to 18 degrees on the 16th, and to 22 degrees on the 19th and 20th. On Jaunary 8,

*In early years (1850) there was a small lake near the great trail, three miles northwest of Kenesaw. The Germans who carried the mail from the Missouri to Colorado had a camping ranch six miles north of Kenesaw, round which grass was abundant.

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1886, 26 degrees below were registered; on the 16th, 23 degrees ; on the 9th, 24 degrees, and on the 16th, 20 degrees below. The mercury showed 12 degrees below on January 1, 1887; 15 degrees on the 6th, and 20 degrees on the 8th and 9th. On January 1, 1881, the mercury was 6 degrees below ; on the 8th, 12 degrees; on the 12th, a blizzard; on the 13th, 14 degrees; on the 14th, 20 degrees; on the 15th, 24 degrees, and on the 16th, 12 degrees. February of 1888 was the most temperate of all Februaries during the six years given, the mercury ranging from 60 degrees to 66 degrees above for several days; but March was the coldest March of all the years. Travelers may speak of the beautiful fall in Southern France and along the chain of the Pyrenees ; but it is very questionable if the sunshine is of longer duration there than in this section of Nebraska. The fall of 1889 was just simply a con- tinnation of the summer, and the sky a summer's sky. When winter spreads her mantle over the prairies he comes to stay for three full months. He is grim, of course, and treacherous ; but withall, this Nebraska winter clarifies the soil, builds up the constitution of man, and carries with it health to all who come here healthy ; and, in some cases, causes the disappearance of even hereditary discase,

The blizzard of April, 1873, came when the robes of winter had disappeared, and the pioneers of Adams were enjoying the first spring day of that year. Although a warm rain was falling, the farmers were busy in the fields, and the stock had been turned loose among the corn-stalks. Late in the afternoon the mercury fell, and toward the close of the day a cold breeze sprung up, which suddenly changed into a blizzard, filling the air with snow and corn-stalks. A Mrs. Brown, of the Independent, speaking of this storm in 1888, says: " The tem- perature seemed to be falling at the rate of forty degrees in thirty-nine minutes; no one had time to do anything but fly in doors, and before midnight one of the worst blizzards that ever struck Nebraska was prevailing with a fury that was frightful to contem- plate." The story was suggested by the blizzard of Jannary 12, 1888, in which Mrs. Malinda Chapman and two children of Mrs. Faust, of Turtle Creek, were frozen to death. The cyclone of April, 1874,

broke over Kenesaw, closing a beautiful afternoon, and scattering the homes of the people. One house. belonging to A. D. Williams, alone remained of the little town, and into this the frightened people ran for safety. It is related that E. G. Knapp, his wife, and W. V. Miller sought shelter in a sod lien-house (about forty-five cubical feet in size) and remained there for seventy-two hours, a can of peaches and two eggs, picked up from the debris, being their only provision for food.

In May, 1874, a heavy rain storm swept over this section. The wide prairie was unable to absorb the volume of water, and so it spread out into a shallow lake, the depression in which Kenesaw is located being submerged to a depth of over three feet. During the thunder storm of April 17, 1880. the house belonging to Thomas Hughes, three miles northeast of Juniata, was destroyed by lightning. The wife of Eugene Parnum was killed and himself scorched by the fluid. The storm of June 25, 1881. created havoe among small buildings in and around Juniata, floral hall on the agricultural grounds being entirely destroyed. On July 11, 1882. a hail storm swept over the county from a point two miles west of Hastings. It broke nearly 2,000 panes of glass in the city, and in its southerly course destroyed crops of all kinds. On July 12. 1883, a similar storm swept a section of country, two miles north of Hastings, destroying a strip of crops twenty-four miles in length by two in width, or forty-eight full sections. In view of such disasters the question of organizing a hail insurance company was raised in January, 1884. The storm of July 20; 1884, commenced north of Grand Island, and created havoc along its southwestern course at Juniata, Hansen and other places.

The leg-bone of a mastodon was unearthed in October, 1883, on a farm belonging to the Nebraska Real Estate Company. How long since the giants of the wilderness roamed over the land ? What ani- mals did they crowd out ? Who were their hunters ? are all questions which history cannot answer. The buffalo, moose, the antelope are the only great ani- mals of this class known to exist on the prairies within this historic period. Since the settlement of Adams County. they have appeared at intervals

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within its boundaries and since its settlement the last great herd of buffalo disappeared within a circle of fire and under showers of lead. In June, 1873, two buffalo visited the Plank farm near Hast- ings, both of which the owner killed. Prior to this time, as recorded in the history of Clay County, a young woman rode down and captured an antelope in the vicinity of Spring Ranche. During the latter part of January and early in February, 1890, weekly wolf hunts formed the programme for the farmers in the northern part of the county.

One of the first and largest white owls ever cap- tured in this country was captured by Frank Ternow, of Holstein, in December, 1889. It measured five feet and a half from tip to tip of wing.

During the latter part of July and the first days of August, 1873, a plagne of insects descended on the prairies, like a heavy cloud which obscured the sunlight. All vegetation, save the single prairie grasses, disappeared before the devouring myriads, and within two days the grain fields were laid waste. Through the efforts of the State Grange, the United States appropriated $150,000 for the relief of the sufferers, while the States and the cities contributed liberally.

A local blacksmith, it is alleged, guarded his anvil to save it from the "pesky things." He had little faith in the "hoppers." He saw them eat holes in axe handles, devour brooms and broom handles; he witnessed the destruction of his fields, and now was determined to save his anvil.

The plague of locusts falling upon this country, at a time when the pioneers looked forward to a harvest of plenty, was a great disappointment in- deed. Snch a disaster would result in an exodus in almost any other State ; but the sufferers had faith in their rich prairie lands, and their faith has since been repeatedly rewarded by rich harvests and years free from climatic or other disadvantages. It is true that, during the fall of 1889, the grain ware- house blockade and the utter lack of transportation facilities for the immense corn product of this sec- tion, caused some discontent and no small loss to the grain growers ; but under all this manifest dis- affection was the consolatory conviction that how- ever much other parts of the world might suffer

from short products, there was grain enough for millions still in this prairie Egypt.

The quietest year of the decade ending December 31, 1889, was the one just then closed. Summer mixed with fall continued up to December 28, and so disorganized commercial circles a little; but the interest in the lands of Adams County did not abate, for from January 2 to December 24, there were no less than 1,597 deeds to real estate recorded.

The first recorded exploration of the Platte Val- ley dates back to 1739. During that and the fol- lowing year Messieurs Pierre and Paul Mallet, Philip Robitaille and others traveled up the valley, and in 1740 reported to the commandant at New Orleans. The Lewis and Clarke and the Long ex- peditions followed.

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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