USA > Nebraska > Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of Nebraska : containing a history of the state of Nebraska also a compendium of reminiscence and biography containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of Nebraska > Part 18
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The state board of agriculture embraces all the minor kindred organizations-the horticultural society and others,-reports of which are incor- porated in the official statements of the board to the legislature. It has since its institution as a territorial organization fostered, encouraged and developed the farming interests of Nebraska, stim- ulating honest rivalry. To it the state owes much of its present popularity, and to the indefatiga- ble efforts of its officers is due in great measure the fact not that Nebraska is an agricultural state, but that she is preeminently because scien- tifically such. The object of the association has been and is to advertise and make known in every possible way the agricultural advantages, prod- ucts, resources, possibilities and promises of the state. Of late years this has been done not only by holding annual fairs and exhibitions, but by the publication of a four-hundred-page volume of agricultural, horticultural, dairy, forestry, live stock, crop, botanical, geological, entomolog- ical, meteorological, civil engineering, zoological and other important data and information.
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.
The Nebraska school for the deaf and dumb was established in 1869, with Professor William M. French as principal. The object of the institu- tion as set forth in the law and in the first report of the superintendent, is "to promote the intel- lectual, physical and moral culture of the deaf and dumb by a judicious and well-adapted course of instruction, that they may be reclaimed from their lonely and cheerless condition, restored to society and fitted for the discharge of the duties of life." The object of the organization has remained the same and in many instances has been accom- plished. The first year there were enrolled twelve pupils, and the school was housed in a rented building. This institution is doing excellent work in carrying out the intent of the law and the ob- ject of the school. An exhibit was made at the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition of the work from all departments of the school, which attracted marked attention. The exhibit 4
was awarded a diploma and gold medal by the exposition, and the committee appointed to judge of the work done in the education of the defec- tive classes, awarded the Nebraska School for the Deaf a diploma for first rank. This committee awarded but one of first rank.
THE NEBRASKA INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.
This institution, which is located at Nebraska City, was opened in 1875. To secure the institu- tion, Nebraska City donated $3,000 and ten acres of ground just north of the city limits. On this site substantial buildings have been erected, and the institution is admirably conducted and doing good work. The school was first opened in rented rooms March 10, 1875. At the beginning there were only three students, but the enrollment reached twenty-one by the close of the first two years. Samuel Bacon was the first superinten- dent.
STATE PENITENTIARY.
The Nebraska state penitentiary is located at Lancaster, about three miles south of the city of Lincoln. Under grants from the congress of the United States, by acts of 1864 and 1867, the state of Nebraska received 32,044 acres of land for pen- itentiary purposes. The act providing for the building of the state penitentiary on the site do- nated for that purpose by Captain W. T. Dona- van and Mr. Hilton, was passed March 4, 1870. W. W. Abbey, W. W. Wilson and F. Tlemplin were appointed prison inspectors to attend to selling the land granted by the government for prison purposes and to superintend the building, $5,000 being appropriated for the erection of a temporary prison. The first warden of the peni- tentiary was Henry Campbell. The institution has always ranked high among the penal institu- tions of its class in the country.
NEBRASKA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
This institution is located at Lincoln. As early as 1865 it was found necessary to make provision for the insane in the territory of Nebraska. Four cases were already being cared for in an Iowa hospital. The legislature authorized the govern- or to make some arrangement with the state of Iowa by which they received and cared for the insane at the expense of Nebraska. Under this arrangement fifty patients were sent at various times to the hospital at Mount Pleasant. Soon after Nebraska became a state the governor, sec- retary of state and auditor of public accounts were appointed a board of commissioners to lo- cate a site for a state lunatic asylum near the city of Lincoln. The first building was completed at a cost of $137,000 in the fall of 1870, and the first patient was admitted November 26 of that year. Early in the following December seventeen pa- tients were brought over from Mount Pleasant to the new institution, and four were admitted who
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had been confined in the Pawnee county jail. Dr. N. B. Larsh was the first superintendent. In
April, 1871, the institution was destroyed by fire.
Five patients were reported missing and were never afterwards accounted for. The re- maining patients were taken to Lincoln and cared for in rented houses until a temporary building was erected on the asylum grounds. As there was no appropria- tion available and the citizens of Lincoln were fearful lest the institution should be removed to some rival city, they advanced the funds neces- sary to build a temporary frame structure, which did service as a hospital until a new stone build- ing was erected the following year. Since that time the institution has been enlarged by the erection of additional buildings until today it is one of the most modern institutions of its kind in the country. As the population of the state increased, the number of insane persons likewise increased, thereby making it necessary to increase the capacity of the hospital. The congestion was also relieved by the erection of other institutions at Hastings and Norfolk. The first patients were sent to the Norfolk hospital February 15, 1888, and to the asylum for the chronic insane at Hast- ings August 1, 1889. Originally the state guar- anteed the expense of caring for insane patients and when possible collected the amount so ex- pended from the estate of the patient or from his or her natural guardians. Later the superinten- dent certified to the auditor the number of pa- tients from each county, and the auditor of pub- lic accounts certified to the commissioners of the several counties the amounts due for the main- tenance of their insane. In 1883 this was changed, and the state assumed the entire expense of car- ing for this class of persons.
No effort has been spared to bring the hospital service up to the highest standard of efficiency, and the citizens of Nebraska may well be congrat- ulated on the excellent reputation which the Ne- braska hospital for the insane bears in the sur- rounding states.
ASYLUM FOR THE CHRONIC INSANE.
The asylum for the chronic insane was located near the city of Hastings in the year 1888, the first building being erected from an appropiation allowed by the legislature of 1887. The capacity of the building at the time was one hundred and eighty patients. The institution was opened for the admission of patients in August, 1889, Dr. M. W. Stone being the first superintendent, having been appointed by Governor Thayer. The object of the institution is to care for the more quiet and those found to be chronic after treatment in the asylums of the state for the acutely insane. The legislature has since from time to time made large appropriations for additional buildings for enlarging the scope and usefulness of the institu- tion.
NORFOLK HOSPITAL FOR INSANE.
The Norfolk hospital for insane owes its origin to an act of the legislature of 1885 appropriating $75,000 to build an insane hospital within three miles of the city limits of Norfolk, provided the city should donate three hundred and twenty acres of good land upon which to locate said in- stitution. The three hundred and twenty acres were donated, commanding a most beautiful view of the lovely valley of the Elkhorn, its tributary the north fork, and the surrounding country. The first building was completed in November, 1886. The legislature has from time to time made liberal appropriations to extend and enlarge this institution, and it ranks among the most import- ant eleemosynary institutions of the state.
NEBRASKA INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE MINDED YOUTHS.
This institution is located at Beatrice, Gage county. It was established by the state of Nebras- ka in 1885 for the benefit of feeble-minded child- ren between the ages of five and eighteen years, who are by reason of their affliction denied the educational advantages of the public schools, and who likewise, because of their physical weakness, are necessarily dependent. We quote the follow- ing from the act of the legislature creating this institution, viz: "Besides shelter and protection, the prime object of said institution shall be to provide special means of improvement for that unfortunate portion of the community who were born or by disease may become imbecile or feeble- minded, and by a well-adapted course of instruc- tion reclaim them from their helpless condition, and through the development of their intellectual faculties fit them as far as possible for usefulness in society. To this end there shall be furnished them such agricultural and mechanical education as they are capable of receiving." Children who are residents of Nebraska, who are feeble-minded, and those who have such marked peculiarities or eccentricities of intellect, or those who by reason of their being backward are unable to receive the benefits of the common schools and ordinary methods of instruction, are entitled to care and training free of charge, except the expense of necessary clothing and transportation to and from their homes. Since the institution was founded, about one thousand applications have been made for admission, about half of which have been received as patients. The work of the institution covers a useful scope. Aside from the school duties, the girls are taught sewing, house work, cooking and all branches of domestic em- ployment, while the boys are instructed in brush making, carpenter work, farm work and such other branches of employment as may be useful to them after leaving the school.
THE HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS.
This institution is located at Lincoln. In 1876
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some of the charitable women of Nebraska or- ganized a society known as the "Home for the Friendless," the object of which was to furnish a refuge for friendless children, girls, young women and old ladies. This society was duly incorporated under the laws of the state of Nebraska, and has been managed continuously from the time of its incorporation by a board of ladies who have served without pay, mileage or financial recom- pense whatever. Absolutely non-sectarian, as every religious organization has been represented, and absolutely non-political. In 1881 the state legislature appropriated the sum of $5,000 to aid the society in the erection of a permanent build- ing. As the state has grown, this charitable work has increased, and several legislative appropria- tions have been made to assist the society in car- rying on their great work. It can safely be said that thousands of friendless children have been received within the shelter of this institution and permanent homes have been found for them among the substantial citizens of the state. A record is kept of each child, and a useful future is assured to these unfortunate children who otherwise would have contributed to the haunts of vice and swell the roll of criminals. Over a thousand wives and mothers have been cared for by the home, besides caring for many aged in- mates. The magnitude of this work can only be appreciated by those who intimately acquaint themselves with the work of the society. Chris- tian women have devoted much of their time and contributed of their substance to the caring for these unfortunates for years. Auxiliary societies have been organized by the charitable women of many towns throughout the state, and the foun- dation has thus been laid for great charitable work in the future.
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME -- GRAND ISLAND
The soldiers' and sailors' home at Grand Island was established under an act of the legislature of 1887. This act constituted the board of public lands and buildings a commission to locate and establish a home for honorably discharged sol- diers, sailors and marines and hospital nurses who served in the United States army or navy or hos- pitals during the war of the rebellion, and who by reason of such service, old age or otherwise have become disabled from earning a livelihood, pro- viding such applicants have been actual bona fide residents of Nebraska for two years next preced- ing such application. This commission approved and accepted a site near the city of Grand Island, containing six hundred and forty acres of land, which was donated to the state by the citizens of Grand Island. The management of the home is vested in a visiting and examining board consist- ing of five persons, appointed by the governor, three of whom must be honorably discharged vol- unteer soldiers, and two of whom must be either wives, sisters or daughters of honorably dis-
charged soldiers and members of the Woman's Relief Corps of Nebraska.
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME-MILFORD.
A branch of the soldiers' and sailors' home was established by an act of the legislature, which took effect April 9, 1895. This home is located near Milford, on the banks of the Blue river, and the site comprises about thirty-five acres. It con- sists of the sanitarium, park and springs, together with a brick and stone building surrounded by broad piazzas. The home is governed in like man- ner as the soldiers' and sailors' home at Grand Island.
THE INDUSTRIAL HOME-MILFORD.
The industrial home at Milford was established in 1888. Its object is to protect and care for the unfortunate and homeless girls, and thus prevent crime. In this institution a home is offered and an opportunity given to commence life anew, as without this opportunity and refuge, often, if the will to reform is evident, the way is completely hedged in. The institution is doing excellent work, and is a charitable enterprise that is worthy of the support of the state.
STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
The state industrial school at Kearney was es- tablished by the legislature of 1870 under the title of State Reform School. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated for the erection of the first building and its temporary maintenance. The first building was completed in 1881, and the records of the school show that the first boy was committed by W. H. Ely, county judge of Dodge county, July 12, 1881. Since that time nearly fifteen hundred boys have been committed to the school by the different counties of the state, be- sides about two hundred girls that were sent here previous to the establishing of the girls' industrial school at Geneva in 1891. In 1887 the legislature changed the title of the Kearney institution from the State Reform School to that of the State In- dustrial School, the name it now bears. The in- tention of the change in the name was to remove the school as much as possible from a penal insti- tution to that of educational and industrial train- ing with the sole purpose in view that as far as possible no stigma should be attached to the un- fortunate and wayward youths that have received their education within its confines.
THE GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
The girls' industrial school at Geneva was es- tablislied in 1891, and the main building was com- pleted during the same year. Up to this time the boys and girls were in one school at Kearney. The site for the school is located less than a mile from Geneva, Fillmore county, on a beautiful elevated tract of land containing forty acres.
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This institution has done and is doing noble work. The school is divided into classes, or families as they are called, and graded or placed according to the commitment and are assigned a certain number of demerits that must be cancelled by good behavior. They are detailed regularly every three months in the industrial departments, and work one-half of each day and are in school the other half day. All are committed until they are twenty-one years old unless sooner released by the governor or the board. They have an hour and a half to play each day, and there seems to be as much happiness as is found in the ordinary boarding school. When a girl has worked out on her "honor" and has no home, one is provided for her, where she goes on trial and is reported monthly. Many such are now commanding good wages. Some have married and have homes of their own. While inmates are committed here for certain offenses, it is not a prison, nor does it re- semble one in any way. It has no fences nor bars on the windows, and the surroundings are as in- viting as any high school. The girls are not here to take punishment for past mistakes, but for edu- cation and protection from all harm, especially evil influences. No home has better moral train- ing.
STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS.
The legislature of 1879 passed an act creating the board of fish commissioners for the purpose of protecting, propagating and stocking the waters of the state and to arouse interest in fish culture. Governor Garber appointed as the first board of fish commissioners William L. May of Fremont, C. W. Kaley of Red Cloud and B. E. B. Kennedy of Omaha. The present site, consisting of fifty- two acres of ground lying along the Platte river in Sarpy county, just south of the village of South Bend, was purchased in 1880, and being well watered with several magnificent springs, has proven well adapted for the purpose for which it was acquired. J. G. Romine, of South Bend, was the first superintendent, appointed at a salary of $500 per annum. The board of commissioners received no salary, but were allowed $250 per an- num for expenses. The superintendent's salary is now $1,200 per annum, and he is allowed sever- al assistants. When the station was first located considerable attention was paid to the hatching and distribution of white fish and land-locked salmon, but it soon
became apparent that the waters of this state were not adapted to these kinds of fish, and this work was discontinued, and the work of hatching carp, black bass, brook, rainbow and brown trout was taken up. The scope of the work has gradually been broadened until now, in addi- tion to the varieties named, they also propagate crappie, perch, catfish, rock bass, tench and sev- eral kinds of ornamental fish, and on the whole the work has been very successful.
NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Nebraska State Historical Society was or- ganized September 25 and 26, 1878, at Lincoln, with the following as charter members: Dr. Geo. L. Miller, Chris Hartman and J. T. Allen, Doug- las county ; Governor Silas Garber and H. S. Ka- ley, Webster county ; S. R. Thompson, T. P. Ken- nard, W. W. Wilson and Samuel Aughey, Lancas- ter county ; Rev. J. M. Taggart and J. H. Croxton, Otoe county ; C. H. Walker, Franklin county ; Hon. L. Crounse and E. N. Grenell, Washington coun- ty ; Prof. C. D. Wilbur, Saline county ; J. Q. Goss, Sarpy county ; D. H. Wheeler and William Gil- more, Cass county; O. T. B. Williams, Seward county ; L. B. Fifield, Buffalo county ; Rev. L. W. B. Shryrock and E. Shugart, Gage county; Wil- liam Adair, Dakota county; Robert W. Furnas, Nemaha county ; H. T. Clark, Sarpy county ; J. H. Brown, A. Humphrey, J. H. Ames, John Cadman and A. G. Hastings, Lancaster county ; J. A. Mac- Murphy, Cass county ; Hiram Craig, Washington county ; J. J. Budd, Douglas county ; F. J. Hen- dershot, Thayer county; S. A. Fulton, Richard- son county ; Theron Nye, Dodge county. A constitution was adopted, providing officers and regulations, and the first president, secretary and treasurer were respectively : Hon. Robert W. Furnas, Prof. Samuel Aughey and W. W. Wilson. The organization remained unchanged from 1878 to 1883, having a president, recording secre- tary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and board of directors. During this time the funds of the society consisted solely of fees and dues paid in more or less irregularly, and were very small. The members first met at the old Commercial Hotel to organize, but usually thereafter the an- nual meetings were held in some room at the state university. The secretary, Prof. Aughey, gathered a small nucleus of a library, consisting of dona-' tions from R. W. Furnas, D. H. Wheeler, Moses Stocking and others. The society began also to carry out some of its proposed objects, These were: (1) To collect all material relating to the history of Nebraska; (2) to publish as much of it as possible; (3) to found an historical library.
A subject of no small interest at the time the society was organized was that of the "historical block." This was block twenty-nine of the orig- inal plat of the city of Lincoln, later known as "Haymarket Square," and having the city offices on it, which was set apart by act of the com- missioners and of the state legislature, February 15, 1869. It was called "State Historical and Li- brary Association Block," and was for the benefit of the "State Historical Library Association," or- ganized August 26, 1867. The society in question had some sessions, and its president for some time was Hon. John Gillespie. But for some reason the legislature, by act of February 24, 1875, took away this block and gave it to the city of Lin- coln. On the organization of the Nebraska State Historical Society in 1878 an effort was made to
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ascertain whether it was possible to recover this block for the latter society, but the attempt was abandoned.
In 1883, by act of the legislature February 23, 1883, the society was made a state institution and a sum appropriated for its support. This opened up to the society a way to accomplish the purpose of publishing historical material. The first vol- ume was issued in 1885, which has been followed by a number of additional volumes. The biennial appropriations of the legislature for its support have increased from time to time, but have hard- ly kept pace with the needs of the society. Ne- braska has made a good beginning in the matter of collecting its own history, but its work does not as yet compare with that of most of its sister states. The plans of the officers of the society for the future contemplates an increase in the work and effectiveness of the organization.
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION.
The Nebraska State Bar Association was organ- ized Jannary 6, 1876. The constitution states the objects of the organization as follows: The as- sociation is established to maintain a high stan- dard of professional integrity among the mem- bers of the Nebraska bar; to cultivate social in- tercourse and courtesy among them; to encour- age a thorough and liberal legal education, and to assist in the improvement of the law and the due administration of justice to all classes of so- ciety without distinction." The constitution pro- vided for its incorporation under the laws of the state, appointing the president to take the neces- sary steps in the matter. Any member of a coun- ty association may become a member, and all judges of the supreme, district and federal courts of Nebraska are members by virtue of their offi- ces, and have all the privileges of membership except voting. Its constitution provides for pun- ishment of its members for misconduct toward the association and the administration of justice, but it is also a vigilance committee to look after and punish in the courts the misconduct of non- members.
NEBRASKA PRESS ASSOCIATION.
An organization was effected on December 6, 1859, of what was know as the Editors' and Pub- lishers' Association of Nebraska Territory. The first meeting was held at the Herndon House, Omaha, the following persons being present : Thomas Morton and M. W. Reynolds, of the Ne- braska City News; R. W. Furnas, of the Brown- ville Advertiser; T. H. Robertson, of the Omaha Nebraskan; E. Giles, of the Plattsmouth Sentin- el ; Burbank & Jamison, of the Falls City Broad Axe; E. D. Webster of the Omaha Republican, and ex-editors H. D. Johnson, J. W. Pattison and S. Belden. On this occasion M. W. Reynolds was elected president, R. W. Furnas vice president and M. H. Clark secretary. Among the resolutions
adopted at this meeting is one: "That a public journal is an impersonality, and should be so treated on all occasions, and that in our inter- course with each other we will neither use offen- sive personalities nor encourage them in others, but that we will at all times discourage their use as ungentlemanly and degrading to the profess- ion of journalism." At this meeting Geo. A. Hins- , dale and J. Sterling Morton were elected hono- rary members.
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