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 2

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 2
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 2
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 2
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 2

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It is a matter of history that the complete ex- ploration and final settlement of the territory which afterwards became known as Louisiana, was due more to the efforts of Christian missionaries than to commercial enterprise or national spirit. The first men to enter upon a systematic exploration of the vast region of which Nebraska is a part, were the Jesnits, or members of the Society of Jesus, a

famous religious society founded by Ignatius Loy- ola, a Spanish Knight of the sixteenth century. The Jesuits, unlike the other religious orders of the Catholic Church, mingled in the affairs of men, and did not indulge in those habits of seclusion and self- mortification which characterized the life of the monks. Actuated by a fervor and zeal before un- known in the history of the church, the Jesuits turned their attention to the new world and were among the first to explore its trackless wilds, and certainly the first to teach the savage the ways of Christian and civilized life. The Banner of the Cross was planted far in advance of the steadily encroaching colonies of the Europeans, and thou- sands of savages listened to the story of the new religion long before they heard the voice of the trader and the settler. .

The St. Lawrence River, with the great chain of lakes, entering the continent from the east, and the Mississippi River, entering from the south, were the two great avenues through which the Europeans en- tered the heart of the American continent. The work of the Jesuit missionaries had led to the dis- covery of the Ohio River and the partial exploration of two routes to the Mississippi ; but as yet the eyes of the Europeans had not rested upon the northern portion of that great river. It remained for two young men, Lonis Joliet and Jacques Marquette, the former a fur trader and the latter a Jesuit mis- sionary, to make the final discovery. Joliet was born in Quebec, of humble parentage. Educated by the Jesuits for the priesthood, he early aban- doned his religious offices for the more sordid pur- suits of fur trading. The hardihood and experi- ence of this life gave him the enterprise, boldness and determination to push the expedition to a snc- cessful issue. His companion, Jacques Marquette, presented a striking contrast. Ile was born in France, and, inheriting from his parents a strong religious susceptibility, he was early in- life imbued with the prevailing religious enthusiasm. Hle be- came a Jesuit, and in 1666 crossed the Atlantic to labor among the savages of the American forests. He was eminently qualified for this noble work. Possessing an indomitable will and courage, great purity and humility of character, and an affection-

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

ate manner in dealing with the Indians, he met with far greater success than any of his fellow mis- sionaries.

Having completed the necessary arrangements, these two daring explorers, with five hardy com- panions, set out on their perilous undertaking on May 17, 1673. For a month they pushed steadily forward, now paddling in canoes along the swift current of unknown streams, again threading their way through dense forests. On June 17, just one month from the day they started, they reached the mouth of the Wisconsin, pushed their frail canoes out into the broad, rolling Mississippi, and drifted rapidly down the current. Down the river they glided, the scenery on either side presenting an ever-changing panoramic view of wild and rugged beauty. They passed the mouth of the Missouri, its muddy waters retaining their identity for miles be- fore mingling with the clearer waters of the Missis- sippi. Further on they reached the mouth of the Ohio, and still further down they came to the mouth of the Arkansas.

It was now the middle of July, and, warned by their rapidly diminishing stores of supplies, the explorers decided to follow the course of the river no farther. Slowly retracing their way up the strong current the party reached the mission at the head of Green Bay in the latter part of September, having traveled a distance of nearly three thousand miles in less than six months.

Marquette remained at the mission to recuperate his health, which had become impaired by the ardu- ous journey, while Joliet pushed on to Montreal to re- port the results of the expedition. He was received with open arms by the projectors of the enterprise, and when he related the success of the undertaking, their joy was unbounded. The shrewd Frenchmen were quick to see the possibilities of large acces- sions to their territory, and immediately took steps to complete the explorations so auspiciously begun by Marquette and Joliet.

It remained for another intrepid Frenchman to complete the work left unfinished by Marquette and Joliet, and to take formal possession of Louisiana in the name of the King of France. Sieur de La Salle was a firm believer in the theory that the Mississippi

River afforded a short and direct route to the Indies, a dream eagerly cherished by a long line of explor- ers, beginning with the renowned Christopher Colum- bus himself. Compelled by the result of Marquette and Joliet's expedition to abandon the theory, La Salle conceived the idea of finishing the exploration of the Mississippi to its mouth and claiming the entire region for the King of France. He accord- ingly obtained a royal commission, with all the necessary authority to take possession of the region he expected to explore, and money to erect forts to hold it with. With ample authority and plenty of means, he sailed from France in 1678 with thirty men. After arriving at Quebec he reinforced his party by the addition of several experienced explor- ers, whose names afterwards became famous.

From the time he left France, La Salle labored incessantly in the prosecution of his cherished enter- prise. Two years were spent in exploring the upper valley, and it was not until December 21, 1681, that he set out from the mouth of the St. Joseph River on the final expedition to the Mississippi. The streams were covered with ice and his men were compelled to build sledges upon which to haul their canoes and supplies to the Illinois River. Arriving at the Illinois, they travelled down that river on the ice until they reached Peoria Lake, where the open water permitted the use of their canoes. Again embarking, they reached the mouth of the Illinois where it empties into the Mississippi, on February 6, 1682. Then for a second time a French expedi- tion was swept sonthward by the hurrying current of the mighty river. The swift-flowing current soon carried them from the rigor of a Northern winter into the balmy spring time of the sunny South. La Salle made many landings in order to greet the natives with friendly assurances and to set up the arms of France. The resistless current of the majes- tic river carried the party nearer and nearer the sea until, on the 6th of April, 1682, the broad bosom of the gulf opened on their sight, tossing its restless billows, as limitless, as voiceless, as lonely, as when born of chaos, without a sign of life.

At the mouth of the Mississippi, La Salle erected a column, bearing the inscription: "Lonis le Grand, Roi de France et de Navarre; Regne; La

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

Neuvieme, Avril, 1682." In honor of his beloved king, La Salle named the country through which he had passed Louisiana, and took formal possession by a brilliant display, and the imposing rites of the Catholic Church. Thus, after some four years of un- told privation, and after overcoming obstacles which would have daunted a less intrepid spirit, La Salle had accomplished his mission and acquired a fame which will last as long as the mighty Father of Waters pursues his restless course from the lake regions of the north to the sea.

The government of France at once took the nec- essary steps to hold the vast territory claimed by La Salle. That distinguished soldier and explorer remained by virtue of his royal commission, mili- tary governor of the Territory until 1689, when a civil government was set up with the Marquis de Sanville as royal viceroy. De Sanville governed a country immensely superior to France in extent of territory, but his subjects numbered only 300, not including the Indians. By regular appointment of viceroys the succession was maintained until, by the treaty of Fontainbleau, concluded on November 3, 1862, France relinquished her claims to the Terri- tory. The following is a list of the viceroys, to- gether with the years of their service:

Robert, Cavalier de La Salle. 1682-1688

Marquis de Sanville. 1689-1700

Bienville ..

1701-1712

Lamothe Cadillar. 1713-1715

De L'Epinay 1716-1717

Bienville. 1718-1723

Boisbriant. 1724

Bienville.

1732-1741

Baron de Kelerec. 1753-1762

D'Abbadie.

1763-1766

In 1762, France was compelled by force of mili- tary necessity, to relinquish her title to Louisiana to Spain. That government combined the semi-mili- tary government until 1803, when the Territory passed under the flag of the United States. The following is a list of the Spanish governors:

Antonio de Ulloa 1767-1768

Alexander O'Reilly .1768-1769

Louis de Unzago. .1770-1776

Bernardo de Galvez. 1777-1784

Estevar Miro. . 1785-1787

Francisco Luis Hortn, Baron of Caron- delet ..

.1789-1792

Gayoso de Lemos. .1793-1798

Sebastian de Casa, Calvo y O'Farrel. . 1798-1799

Jean Manual de Salcedo. . 1800-1803

Although France regained possession of Louisi- ana on October 1, 1800, Jean Manual de Salcedo remained as governor until the United States took formal possession.

The immense territory attaching to the crown of France by reason of La Salle's enterprise, comprised about one-third of the present area of the United States, and was by far the most extensive colonial possession of that nation. But in time the glory of France began to lose some of the luster imparted to it by the brilliant genius of Louis XIV. In the treaty which, in 1763, concluded the "Seven Years War," which had shaken the monarchies of Europe to their very foundations, France, torn, bleeding and humiliated by the dread disasters of war, was compelled to acknowledge the sovereignty of Eng- land in America as extending westward to the Mis- sissippi River, and to cede to that nation all her rieh possessions in Canada. As if this great loss of territory was not sufficiently humiliating, France was compelled by another treaty, to relinquish to Spain all claims to the immense Territory of Louisi- ana. Thus, as a result of a single war, France was dispossessed of every foot of her territory in Amer- ica.

With the acquisition of Lonisiana in 1762, Spain controlled over one-half of the North American con- tinent; but her sovereignty over Louisiana was but of brief duration. Mighty events were following each other in rapid succession. The thirteen Eng- lish colonies in America had rebelled against the mother country and had become free and independ- ent States. Napoleon Bonaparte had raised himself from Corsican obscurity to the throne of France, with all Europe trembling at his feet. In 1800 his mighty genius wrested Louisiana from the hands of Spain; but the dreams of a French empire in America were soon shattered by the dire necessities of Napoleon, who by force of circumstances was compelled to relinquish Louisiana to the United States for a monetary consideration.

The account of the negotiations which led to the peaceful acquisition of Louisiana by the Govern- ment of the United States forms one of the most interesting chapters of our National history; but as it is more pertinent to National than to State his-

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

tory, a brief reference must suffice in these pages. During the years in which Spain had controlled Louisiana the question of the free navigation of the Mississippi River stirred up no little contention be- tween the United States and the Spanish govern- ment. The Mississippi River at that time formed the only outlet for the products of the settlers west of the Alleghany Mountains; and the obstructive regulations of the Spanish authorities at New Or- leans had caused no little ill-feeling between the two nations. In all probability the distrust and ill-fecl- ing would have led to an open rupture, had not the retrocession of Louisiana to France, in 1800, put an entirely new aspect upon affairs. If the regulations of the Spanish authorities at New Orleans had proven distasteful to the people of America, the change to French authority was likely to prove even more so. Napoleon fully appreciated the immense value of Louisiana and at once began the work of fortifying the entrance to the Mississippi. Thomas Jefferson, then president of the United States, was quick to perceive the danger of allowing so formid- able a rival to establish herself in such close prox- imity. The "Monroe Doctrine" had not yet been promulgated, and Jefferson, with the wisdom which had conceived the Declaration of Independence, formed the plan of purchasing the Territory of Lou- siana from France.

The condition of affairs in France was exceed- ingly favorable to the plans of President Jefferson on behalf of the United States. Napoleon was on the eve of a mighty struggle with England, which would call for all his energies, all his resources. While keenly feeling the disgrace of surrendering Louisiana to England, he foresaw that England's superior naval force would quickly wrest that important colonial possession from him. Moreover, he was greatly in need of funds with which to prosecute the war. In addition to all this, he perceived the splendid opportunity for foiling England's in- tention of securing Louisiana by ceding that Ter- ritory to the United States. So when Messrs. Mon- roe and Livingston, the commissioners appointed to conduct the negotiatiations on the part of the United States, arrived in Paris they found all pre- liminary negotiations unnecessary, the only thing

to be agreed upon being the price and the terms of sale.

In meeting some of the objections made by some of his ministers to the sale of Louisiana, Napoleon used the singularly prophetic words: "Perhaps it will be objected that the Americans will be found too powerful for Europe in two or three centuries ; but my foresight does not embrace such remote fears. Besides, we may hereafter expect rivalries among the members of the Union. The confedera- cies which are called perpetual only last till one of the contracting parties finds it to his interest to break them." The secession of the Southern States was thus clearly predicted by Napoleon sixty years before it was attempted; but even Napoleon's mar- velous foresight did not permit him to look for- ward still another decade and see a united country, stronger and more powerful than before the rup- ture.

After carrying on the negotiations for some days, the treaty ceding Louisiana to the United States was concluded on April 30, 1803. The price agreed upon was eighty million francs, or about fifteen million dollars of good American money. The instructions given the American commissioners by the government of the United States did not authorize them to make au outright purchase of Louisiana; but Monroe and Livingston were so surely possessed of the views of President Jefferson in regard to the matter that they felt that they could safely transcend their authority, and rely upon the patriotism and good sense of the Ameri- can people for approbation. They were not de- ceived, and Congress ratified the treaty of purchase, and on March 9, 1804, the stars and stripes were unfurled at St. Louis in token of formal possession. Louisiana thus became a Territory of the United States.

The history of the exploration and formation of the Territory of Louisiana has thus been briefly traced up to the time it passed under the authority of the United States. With a more in- timate knowledge of the subject, the reader may now turn to the succeeding chapters, which will contain a brief sketch of the history of Nebraska proper.

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER II.

INDIAN HISTORY OF NEBRASKA-THE PRINCIPAL TRIBES-THE PONCAS AND THEIR MELANCHOLY HISTORY-THEIR TREATIES WITH THE UNITED STATES-OUTRAGES BY UNITED STATES SOLDIERS-THEIR FORCIBLE RE- MOVAL TO THE INDIAN TERRITORY-STANDING BEAR'S ESCAPE-ARREST AND SUBSEQUENT RE- LEASE BY JUDGE DUNDY-THE PAWNEES, OTOES AND OMANIAS-GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN THE SIOUX AND PAWNEES-THE GREAT UPRISING OF AUGUST, 1864-THE MAS- SACRE AT PLUM CREEK-STAMPEDE OF THE SETTLERS-PEACE RESTORED.

If justice will take all and nothing give, Justice, methinks, is not distributive .- Dryden.

REVIOUS to the advent of the white man, the In- dians dominated the entire region west of the Missouri River. The country lying between that river and the Rocky Mountains was di- vided among some forty or fifty tribes, some friendly to each other, others ex- tremely hostile. The plains abounded in game, the climate was not severe, and altogether, the life of the western In- dians was more than ordinarily a happy and contented one. The principal tribes which made their homes within the present limits of Nebraska were the Poncas, the Omahas, the Otoes and Pawnees. Of these the Pawnees were the most warlike, and the history of the Poncas is probably the most interesting. In their report of their famous exploration of the Missouri River, Lewis and Clarke refer to Poncas or Poncars as " the remnant of a nation once respectable in point of numbers. They formerly resided on a branch of the Red River of Lake Winnipeg. Beiug oppressed by the Sioux, they removed to the west side of the Missouri, on Poncar River, where they built and

fortified a village, and remained for some years; but being pursued by their ancient enemy, the Sioux, they have joined and now live with the Mahas (Omahas), whose language they speak." Their numbers were estimated by Lewis and Clarke as being only about 200, all told; but this small estimate is probably to be explained by the fact that at the time of the visit of the famous explorers, the tribe was away on its annual buffalo hunt, and their village had been so long empty and quiet that a buffalo was found grazing there. A few years after the visit of Lewis and Clarke, the population of the tribe was estimated at 400, and in a census of the Indian tribes, taken by Gen. Parters in 1829, their number was set down at 600. The great artist Cat- lin, who visited them a few years later, rated them a little less. He gives an interesting account of the chief of the tribe, named Shoo-de-ga-cha (smoke), and his young and pretty wife, Hee-la'h-dee (the pure fountain), whose portraits he painted. He says: "The chief, who was wrapped in a buffalo- robe, is a noble specimen of native dignity and philosophy. I conversed much with him, and from his dignified manners, as well as from the sound- ness of his reasoning, I became fully convinced that he deserves to be the sachem of a more numerous and prosperous tribe. He related to me with great

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

coolness and frankness the poverty and distress of his nation-and with the method of a philosopher predicted the certain and rapid extinction of his tribe which he had not the power to avert." The day before Catlin arrived at the village this old chief's son, the young Hongs-kay-de, had created a great sensation among the members of the tribe by accomplishing a most startling amount of bigamy in a single day. Being the chief's son, and having been presented by his father with a handsome wig- wam and nine horses, he had no difficulty whatever in ingratiating himself into the good graces of the fathers of the most eligible marriageable daughters, and he had, therefore, offered himself to and been accepted by four successive fathers-in-law, promis- ing to each of them two horses, and enjoining upon them profound secrecy until a certain hour, when he would announcee to the whole tribe that he was to be married. At the time appointed he appeared, followed by some of his young friends leading eight horses. Addressing the prospective father-in-law who stood nearest him, with his daughter by his side, he said: "You promised me your daughter; here are the two horses." A great hubbub immediately arose, the three others all springing forward, angry and perplexed, claiming his promises made to them. The triumphant young savage exclaimed: "You have all now acknowledged your engagements to me, and must fulfill them. Here are your horses." There was nothing more to be said. The horses were delivered, and Hongs-kay-de, leading two brides in each hand, walked off with great dignity to his wigwam. This was an affair totally unprece- dented in the annals of the tribe, and it produced an impression as profound as it could have done in a civilized community, though of a different char- acter-redounding to the young man's credit rather than to his shame-marking him out as one daring and original enough to be a " Big Medicine." Mr. Catlin says that he visited the bridal wigwam soon afterward, and saw the "four modest little wives seated around the fire, seeming to harmonize very well, "

The treaty relations between the government and the Ponca Indians during the past seventy-five years have been anything but creditable to the former.

The first treaty made by the United States with this small tribe of gentle and peaceable Indians was in 1817, and was simply an expression of peace and friendship. In 1825 another treaty was made in which the Poucas admit that "they reside within the territorial limits of the United States, acknowl- edge their supremacy, and claim their protection." They also admit "the right of the United States to regulate all trade and intercourse with them.". The United States, on their part, "agree to receive the Poncas tribe of Indians into their friendship and under their protection, and to extend, from time to time, such benefits and acts of kindness as may be convenient, and seem just and proper to the Presi- dent of the United States." After this there is lit- tle mention, in the official records of the goverment, of the Poncas for thirty years. Other tribes in the upper Missouri region were so troublesome and aggressive that the peaceable Poncas were left to shift for themselves as best they might. In 1856, the agent of the Upper Platte mentions incidentally that the lands of the Poncas were fast being intruded upon by squatters; and in 1857 another agent reports having met a band of Poncas who made complaint that all the Indians on the river were receiving presents while they were overlooked ; that the men from the steamboats cut their trees down; and that the white settlers were taking all their lands. In 1858, another treaty was signed by the Poncas, in which they relinquished all the lands occupied and claimed by them except small portions on which the government proposed to colonize and domesticate them. This proceeding was deemed necessary in order to obtain such control over these Indians as to prevent their interference with white settlements, which were extending rapidly. From the day the Poncas signed away their lands, in 1858, their real troubles began, and from that year, the history of the tribe is almost an unbroken record of misery and suffering. The government failed to keep faith with them, the money appropriated for them was stolen by dishonest agents and contractors, and their old enemies, the Sioux, robbed them of what little the white men left them, stole their ponies and killed many of their young men. A single instance will serve to illustrate the long story

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

of ontrage upon this unoffending tribe. In Decem- ber of 1863 a party of Poncas, consisting of four men, six women, three boys and two girls, return- ing from a visit to the Omahas, had encamped for the night about twelve miles from their own reserva- tion. In the night a party of soldiers from a mili- tary post on the Niobrara River came to their camp, and began to insult the squaws, offering money with one hand and presenting a revolver with the other. The Indians, alarmed, pulled up their lodge and escaped to a copse of willows near by. The sol- diers fired at them as they ran away, and then proceeded to destroy all their effects. They cut the lodge cover to pieces, burnt the saddles and blankets, cut open sacks of beans, corn and dried pumpkins, and strewed their contents on the ground, and then went away, taking with them a skin lodge-covering, beaver-skins, buffalo-robes, blankets, guns, and all the small effects. Early in the morning the Indians returned with their ponies, which had been hidden in the willows, picked up what few things they could find and started for home. After going but a comparatively short distance they were again diseov- ered and attacked by the soldiers who fired upon them, wounding one woman by a ball in her thigh; an- other, with a child on her back, by two balls through the child's thighs, one of which passed through the mother's side. These women were fired upon as they were crossing the river on the ice. The sol- diers then took possession of the six ponies and all the articles at the camp and left. The squaws and children, who were looking for beans, were half a mile below. A little dog belonging to them barked and revealed their hiding place. The soldiers imme- diately turned on them, dismounted, made up to them and deliberately shot them dead as they hud- dled helplessly together-three women and a little girl. One of the boys ran for the river, pursued by the soldiers. On reaching the river he dived into the water through a hole in the iee. As often as he lifted his head the soldiers fired at him, but he finally escaped. One of the murdered women had three balls in her head and cheek, her throat cut, and her head half severed by a sabre thrust; another, the youngest woman, had her cloth shirt taken off and carried away, and all her other clothes torn

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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