History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time, Part 39

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company
Number of Pages: 1120

USA > Nebraska > Gage County > History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time > Part 39

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Beatrice

Gage and Saline

James H. Casebeer

Blue Springs

Gage

Adam McMullen

Wymore

Gage

W. E. Robbins

Cortland

Gage

1907

Adam McMullen

Wymore

Gage

C. W. Mccullough

Blue Springs

Gage

D. J. Killen

Adams

Gage

C. H. Culdice

DeWitt

Gage and Saline

1909

B. H. Begole

Beatrice

Gage

D. J. Killen

Adams

Gage

Charles J. McColl

Beatrice

Gage

Frank O. Ellis

Beatrice

Gage and Saline

1911 I. R. Clayton

Wymore

Gage

H. Clyde Filley

Beatrice

Gage

J. W. McKissick Anton Sagl

Wilber

Gage and Saline

1913 Charles F. Allen F. W. Schaupp

Virginia

Gage

Beatrice

Gage

Adams

Gage

STATE LEGISLATURE - SENATE

1867 Oscar Holden 1869 C. H. Gere 1871 A. J. Cropsey

Beatrice

Gage

Beatrice

Gage

1915 D. S. Dalby G. W. Burrows

Pawnee, Gage, Johnson, Clay, and Jones Pawnee, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Lan- caster Pawnee, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Lan- caster

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

1873 N. K. Griggs

Beatrice

1875 N. K. Griggs

Beatrice

1877 L. W. Colby

Beatrice

1879 J. A. McMeans

Fairbury

Jefferson and Gage

1881

E. B. Harrington

Beatrice

1883

Elijah Filley

Beatrice

1885

W. H. Snell

Fairbury

1887

L. W. Colby

Beatrice

1889

J. W. Funck

Beatrice

1891

G. F. Collins

Firth

1893

Alex. Graham

Beatrice

1895

Alex. Graham

Beatrice

1897

G. A. Murphy

Beatrice

1899

F. N. Prout

Beatrice

1901

W. H. Edgar

Beatrice

1903

L. M. Pemberton

Beatrice

1905 H. W. L. Jackson

Beatrice

1907

H. E. Sackett

Beatrice

1909

Jacob Klein

Beatrice

1911

Peter Jansen

Beatrice

1913_ Jacob Klein

Beatrice

Gage and Pawnee

1915

A. D. Spencer

Barneston

Gage and Pawnee

1917

Adam McMullen

Wymore

Gage and Pawnee

CHAPTER XXVIII

HOSPITALS

INSTITUTE FOR FEEBLE MINDED YOUTHS - HEPPERLIN'S HOSPITAL - NEW LUTHERAN HOS- PITAL - FALL'S SANITARIUM - THE MENNONITE DEACONESS HOME AND HOSPITAL.

A community is often distinguished by its beneficent institutions, both public and pri- vate. If the aphorism "Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn," as the old school readers had it, then it must be equally true that man's humanity to man causes countless thousands to rejoice. Noth- ing is more indicative of the altruistic prin- ciple in human affairs than asylums and hos- pitals for the afflicted, the helpless, the hope- less. Though the commercial spirit may largely prevail in a community, there will al- ways be found those to whom the cup of cold water given in kindness, the gentle word, the alleviation of pain and suffering, the care of the unfortunate, are more than gold, than much fine gold.

Beatrice is widely known on account of its being the site of the Institution for Feeble Minded Youths, as well as on account of its two private hospitals and a private sanitarium located within the city.

The state institution was created by act of the legislature of 1885, which became a law March 5th of that year. The second section of the act reads as follows :

Besides shelter and protection, the prime object of said institution shall be to provide special means of improvement for that unfor- tunate portion of the community who were born, or by disease have become, imbecile of feeble-minded, and by a wise and well adapted course of instruction reclaim them from their helpless condition, and, through the develop- ment 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 may be capable of receiving.

The fourth section of the act provided for the location of the institution "at or near Be- atrice and within two miles of the corporate limits of said city ; Provided, that said city of Beatrice or the citizens thereof shall donate and convey to the state not less than forty (40) acres of land, near or through which runs a stream of living water sufficient to afford water supply for said institution, said site to be approved by the board of public lands and buildings."

Pursuant to this proviso, the money to pur- chase a site and thereby secure the location of the institution at Beatrice was readily sub- scribed by the citizens, amounting to the sum of $4,000, and the east ten acres of the north- east quarter of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 35 and the west thirty acres of the north- west quarter of the northwest quarter of section 36, in Midland township, were pur- chased and, by warranty deed, conveyed to the state as a site for this institution.

The ninth section of the act appropriated the sum of $50,000 for the purpose of con- structing and furnishing a building for the use of the inmates, as provided by the act, and the tenth and last section reads as follows :

In order to create a fund for the support of said institution, there is hereby authorized and shall be made an annual tax levy on the taxable property of the state, not to exceed one-eighth (1/8) of one mill on the dollar ; said fund shall be known as "The Fund of the Institution for the Feeble Minded."

Shortly after the passage of the act and the purchase and conveyance of the above- described tract of land to the state, work was begun on the first structure erected on these

303

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

grounds. It is now used and known as the administration building.

The act establishing the institution author-

Armstrong was the first superintendent of the institution and his wife the first matron. It was to him more than to any other man

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41044 4

STONE COTTAGE

BOYS' FIRST COTTAGE

ized the state board of public lands and build- ings to appoint a superintendent for it, to whom was to be committed its control, and also provided for the appointment of a ma- tron, teachers, and other employes. Dr. J. T.

that credit is due for the founding of this great charity, one of the very few of like character in the United States. He remained superintendent until his death. The Beatrice Institute for Feeble Minded Youths stands as

305

HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

a lasting monument to the enthusiasm and benevolence of spirit of Dr. J. T. Armstrong, and to Frank M. Holt, who at that time rep-

election to the office of clerk of the district court. Both he and Dr. Armstrong are buried in Evergreen Home cemetery. His

...

GIRLS' FIRST COTTAGE

BOYS' SECOND COTTAGE

resented Gage county in the legislature, and whose powerful and manly advocacy of his bill establishing the institution won him the respect and gratitude of the entire state. He died in November, 1891, on the day of his re-

grave is marked by a stone, the Doctor's by a monument.

The first child was admitted to the institu- tion May 24, 1887. It is a matter of history that Orion Rossman, a boy who is still an in-

306

HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

GIRLS' SECOND COTTAGE

307

HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

mate of the institution, was the third one ad- mitted, he having entered on the 25th day of May, 1887.

A number of prominent physicians have served the state as superintendent of the insti- tution since the death of Dr. Armstrong. They are Dr. Clifford P. Fall, of Beatrice, Drs. Sprague, Deering, Johnson, Osbourne, G. L., Roe (also of Beatrice), Thomas, and Fast. Dr. D. G. Griffiths is the present super- intendent, and under his able administration,

stantly increasing. Few are ever discharged except by death, and it is a matter of record that patients of this class are as a rule short- lived.

The state of Nebraska is entitled to the greatest possible credit for what it has done to alleviate the condition of these unfortunate children and to relieve their relatives from the great burden of their care.

In 1879 Dr. Harry M. Hepperlen estab- lished, at No. 1700 South Ninth street, a pri-

HOSPITAL BUILDING

the high record of efficiency in this important trust has been fully maintained.

The state has been most liberal in providing the necessary buildings and conveniences for these youthful but hopeless wards. In addi- tion to the buildings here shown there are an up-to-date dairy, barn, laundry, store-room, bakery, engine house, pumping station for the water supply and a large stand pipe for water service to all the buildings as well as the grounds. By successive purchases the state now owns a fine body of fertile land, compris- ing three hundred acres, adjoining its original forty-acre tract, and the institution is in a large measure self-supporting. There is at this time a population of six hundred children at the institution, a population which is con-

vate hospital, which immediately secured a large patronage from the city and surround- ing country. After several years of prosper- ous existence under its founder's personal care, it was purchased, in 1909, by the United Brethren church, which continued its benefi- cent mission until 1913, when it was sold to the Lutheran church. This organization has carefully nourished the plant, attracting a widely distributed patronage. The old build- ing in which the hospital was first started, after some additions and changes had been made by Dr. Hepperlen, could accommodate twenty-five patients. But latterly these ac- commodations have been found insufficient, and the present owners are now erecting a modern hospital, to cost $150,000, and to be

308

Menonite Hospital

Dr. Falls Sanitarium

Institute for Feeble Minded Youth

Lutheran Hospital

HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

309

HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

equipped with the latest and most modern ap- pliances of every description for hospital work. It is the intention to spare no pains or expense to make it one of the most complete institutions of its kind in existence. It will be a fire-proof building and when opened to public patronage will contain one hun- dred beds. The new structure is located a little north of the old building and the latter will continue to be used, as a nurse's home.

In 1901 Dr. Clifford P. Fall established a private sanitarium in connection with his

desire to make a special thanks-offering to God for all their blessings. It was at first proposed to establish a home for the aged, but it was finally determined to found a hospital, to be known as the Mennonite Deaconess Home and Hospital. By the congregation was chosen a board of directors consisting of twelve brethren, who went immediately to work, their first object being to raise the funds necessary to. purchase a site and erect a suitable building. When $20,516.25 had been subscribed for the building, Hon. Peter Jansen and wife donated to the church for

NEW LUTHERAN HOSPITAL

practice. It is located at No. 723 North Eleventh street. This institution has had a very successful and a very useful career. It contains twenty-five beds, has the service of eight nurses, and it is open to the use of other physicians and surgeons. Dr. Fall came to Beatrice a young man, in 1888; he is now a veteran in his profession and has achieved an enviable reputation both as a physician and a surgeon.

The Mennonite Deaconess Home and Hos- pital is located at Eleventh and Arthur streets. Its inception can be traced to a jubilee cele- bration held by the Beatrice Mennonites sev- eral years ago, for the purpose of praising the Lord for His merciful guidance during the twenty-five years of their settlement in this country of religious liberty. On this oc- casion the congregation was seized with a

hospital purposes block 2 of Fairview Addi- tion to Beatrice. The plans for the building were drawn by Richard W. Grant, architect, and the work of erecting the structure was begun during the year 1910. It was com- pleted in 1911, and, with appropriate cere- monies, was dedicated to its work of mercy on July 16th of that year.

The hospital is arranged to accommodate thirty patients, and these are cared for by the sisters in a faithful and conscientious manner. It employs from eight to ten nurses, and every effort is made to alleviate suffering, mitigate despair, and awaken hope in the breasts of the despondent and afflicted. With generous unselfishness and absolute impartiality, the management invites all practising physicians and surgeons to avail themselves of its facili- ties.

CHAPTER XX IX

MILITARY HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY

INDIAN RAID ON LITTLE BLUE RIVER, 1864 - FIRST MILITARY ORGANIZATION - A STAM- PEDE - COMPANY C, NEBRASKA MILITIA - SIOUX INDIAN WAR, 1891 - GAGE COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR -THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR- ROSTER OF COMPANY C, FIRST REGIMENT - THE WORLD WAR.

The early annals of Gage county as re- spects military affairs have but little interest. The pioneers usually provided themselves with arms against the depredations of Indians and lawless persons, but within the boundaries of our county there is no well authenticated case of Indian troubles worthy of mention. The Otoe and Missouri tribes of Indians were at peace with the whites and were their allies against the encroachments of warlike tribes. Nevertheless, for a number of years the white population maintained an attitude of constant vigilance against surprises and attacks by marauding bands of savages, but until 1864 nothing like a military organization of any kind existed in the county.

That year, on Sunday, the 7th day of August, occurred what is known in Nebraska history as the Indian raid on the Little Blue river, in which several Gage county people lost their lives and property and in which the lives of many others were put in jeopardy. The Indians were Cheyennes, led by Black Kettle, One-Eyed George Bent, a half-breed, Two Face, and other chiefs. It had evidently been planned to attack the ranches and stage stations along the Oregon Trail simultaneous- ly at a number of points, to kill the whites, destroy their property, and clear the Little Blue country as far as the Big Sandy. Pat- rick Burke, the first blacksmith of Beatrice, on his way up the old trail with a load of corn, about three o'clock in the afternoon, in

plain sight of and within half a mile of Paw- nee Ranch, was shot and killed. About the same hour an attack was made by a band of Cheyennes on Little Blue Station, or Com- stock's Ranch, at Oak Grove, and J. H. But- ler and M. C. Kelley, both Gage county men, were shot with arrows, and killed. A few miles further down the river the Eubank family was murdered, nine persons in all, and Mrs. Eubank, the wife of William Eubank, her child and Miss Laura Roper, a Gage county girl, were carried away into captivity. In May, 1865, while quartered at Laramie, General Tom Moonlight, afterward governor of Wyoming, when about to start on an expe- dition against the Indians, learned that two white women were with Two Face's band, near the south base of the Black Hills. Com- munication was opened with these Indians, and for a large number of ponies, blankets, a quantity of sugar and other things of value to the Indians, the white women were pur- chased from them and brought into Laramie, under an armistice, accompanied by Two Face and two of. his best warriors. The women were Mrs. Eubank and Laura Roper. When the condition of Mrs. Eubank became known to General Moonlight, the armistice was vio- lated - Two Face and his warriors were ar- rested and were hanged in chains, on a bluff two miles north of Fort Laramie, where their bodies remained until the crows had picked their bones. Thirty persons lost their lives at

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

the ranches and stage stations along the Little Blue river in this raid, and the first semblance of a military organization in Gage county was a company of its citizens hastily called to- gether by the sheriff, Joseph Clyne, for the purpose of investigating the depredations of these savages, ascertaining the true condition of affairs, burying the dead killed in the massacre, and repelling the invasion.

As far as known the members of this com- pany from Gage county were William H. Stoner, John Gilbert, Oliver Townsend, Al- bert C. Howe (half-brother of Church Howe), H. M. Wickham, William R. Jones, Daniel Freeman, Thomas Pethoud, James Pethoud, Enoch Graves, Henry Graves, Louis Graves, Ira Dixon, Leander Wilson, Samuel Jones, Richard C. Davis, William Alexander, Joseph Clyne, Edward Wells and his brother, from Cub creek, Mr. Bagley, also from Cub creek, and Theodore M. Coulter, a defaulting county treasurer and a prisoner in the custody of Sheriff Clyne. Stoner was elected captain of the company, and John Gilbert, who still lives, an honored citizen of Red Cloud, was chosen lieutenant. At Big Sandy this com- pany of men was joined by a number of others, among theni a man named Constable, who, in the battle which ensued, was killed, with another, whose name is not known. These men were well armed and well mounted, and, after passing Big Sandy, numbered thirty-four. On their way out they buried the dead, including Bill Kennedy, who had been killed in his cabin by the Indians, five of the Eubanks family, Kelley and Butler. They found all the principal ranches and stage stations between the Hackney Ranch and Pawnee Ranch burned, except Little Blue Sta- tion, where they found an abandoned wagon train of a hundred laden wagons, bound west- ward, and they found desolation and destruc- tion everywhere. A detail of United States troops had been dispatched from Fort Kear- ney, under the command of Captain E. B. Murphy, to go over the Little Blue country on the same mission of the company from Beatrice, and the two companies met at Paw- nee Ranch on the 14th day of August. The

next day, under command of Captain Murphy, they started south in pursuit of the hostile Cheyennes, and came upon the Indians where the Fort Riley road crossed Elk creek, in northeastern Nuckolls county, ten miles south of Little Blue Station, in considerable num- bers and in a warlike attitude. In the engage- ment which immediately ensued about three hundred warriors participated, while a still larger number appeared to be held in reserve. The entire band was moving toward the Re- publican river. Captain Murphy had a single field-piece, but it was disabled in firing the first round. He then deemed it best, in view of the number of Indians, to retreat and fall back to Little Blue Station, having lost two of his command. Having only limited ra- tions, he abandoned further pursuit of the Indians and the Beatrice company returned home.

The excitement in Gage county over this Indian raid was intense. At Beatrice a sod breastwork was thrown up on the east bank of the Big Blue river, to defend the Market street ford, and, as far as possible, the men went armed and took other precautions to defend the city. The late summer and fall of 1864 was a period of great suspense and ner- vous strain. This is well illustrated by a stampede which occurred in the eastern por- tion of the county toward the end of August. One day, a little after noon, a couple of men in a lumber wagon, passed up Mud creek and reported that the Indians had attacked and were burning Blue Springs. They claimed also that they had been attacked, and, as proof, showed bullet holes in their wagon-box. About that time a confederate near Blue Springs set fire to a patch of prairie grass, and these strangers pointed to the smoke as a confirma- tion of their story. That was enough; the alarm spread like wildfire, and before sun- down not a white person was left in Rockford, Filley, and Sherman townships. The settlers turned their hogs, cattle, and chickens loose to roam at will, loaded their women and chil- dren into wagons, and fled as best they could. That night most of them stopped on Yankee creek, about a mile west of Crab Orchard;

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

others went on to Brownville and Nebraska City. After a day or two a company of ten men ventured back to their homes and found that the settlers had been the victims of a practical joke.

The Little Blue country, however, contin- ued to be dangerous ground, and a call was issued by Governor Saunders for four com- panies of territorial militia to be used in guarding traffic, travel and the Overland Stage line along the old trail from Big Sandy to Denver. One of these was Company C of the Second Brigade, First Regiment Nebraska Militia (cavalry), raised in Pawnee and Gage counties - Alvin G. White, of Pawnee City, captain ; William B. Raper, of Pawnee City, first lieutenant ; Dr. Levi Anthony, of Blue Springs, second lieutenant. The Gage county members of the company were :

Levi Anthony (second lieutenant), John Barrett, William Alexander, James Grant, Isaac Claiborne, William Aikens, Nelson Adams, Alvah Ayers, William T. Brown, Charles Bailey, Charles Buss, Edward Cart- wright, Henry Corlett, William J. Dobbs, John H. Dunn, Josiah Eastman, David K. Fisher, John J. Fisher, Francis M. Graham, Henry Graves, Henry L. McMuford, Abra- ham P. McManis, Joel T. Mattingley, Joseph Milligan, Francis M. Reese, D. M. Shellan- berger, Horace M. Wickham, James A. Wy- more

The company was mustered into the ser- vice of the state at Pawnee City, September 1, 1864, and was stationed at Buffalo Ranch, at the western end of Nine Mile Ridge, on Little Blue river, throughout the ensuing fall and winter, to guard the stage lines, ranches, stations and travel from Big Sandy to Fort Kearney. It performed this duty efficiently, was paid by the state, but rationed by the fed- eral government, and disbanded, without be- ing discharged, about February 7, 1865.

Our county took an honorable and efficient part in what is known as the Sioux Indian war, in 1890-1891. In that year there arose on the northwestern border of our state a religious disturbance amongst the Sioux Indians in South Dakota. A young, half-

educated, Piute Indian, with a smattering knowledge of the Christian religion, appeared in Utah as the long expected Indian Messiah, who was to drive the whites from the ancient Indian hunting grounds, rejuvenate the aged and infirm, resurrect the dead, bring back to the hunting grounds the deer, buffalo and other wild game of the early days, and restore to the Indians the great northwest. This mis- chief-making imposter claimed to have re- ceived direct from the Great Spirit the revela- tion of the "Ghost Dance" as a means of spreading the knowledge of his mission abroad. This sacred rite was introduced among the powerful Sioux tribes of South Dakota at a moment when, on account of gen- eral drought, they were facing a great short- age of provisions. The subtle influence of these pretentions manifested itself at first in mutterings of discontent and finally in a gen- eral movement of large bodies of Indians from their agencies in almost open defiance of authority. The Indians of Standing Rock Agency, Big Foot's band from the Cheyenne River Agency, and the Brules at the Rosebud Agency, broke away from every semblance of control and, in open defiance of their agents' orders, refused to discontinue the dance. Dis- affection was spreading to the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies, which together com- prised a compact body of more than ten thousand Indians, the most warlike in the northwest. In August, 1890, some of the local agents declared the situation to be beyond their control, and in November the president of the United States directed the secretary of war to take active measures to prevent an out- break. Troops to the number of 8,000 were poured into the country and many of the In- dians left their agencies and fled to the Bad Lands. With more than twenty-five thousand Indians in a state of semi-rebellion and nearly all infected by the Messiah craze and the Ghost Dance, and impatient of restraint, the inhabitants of northern Nebraska appealed to the governor of the state for protection.

By his direction, the adjutant general sup- plied fourteen independent military compan- ies, organized in places along the northwes-

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

tern frontier, with Springfield breech-loading rifles, ammunition, and equipment, and in January, 1891, the two regiments of the Ne- braska National Guard, under Brigadier Gen- eral Leonard W. Colby, were ordered to the scene of action and stationed at or near the towns along the Elkhorn Railway, south of the Indian country. The guards did good ser- vice in quieting the fears of the people and in showing a readiness to afford protection in case of necessity.

Company C of the First Regiment was from Beatrice. It was commanded by A. A. Reed, was stationed during the Indian troubles at Valentine, Nebraska, and its services in this historic event closed the military activities of Gage county as respects Indian wars.

Our county participated to some extent in the great Civil war. The patriotic devotion of the territory of Nebraska to the Union throughout those trying days forms a most creditable chapter in its history. The news of the fall of Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, evoked a spirit of unbounded loyalty in the new territory. In Omaha steps were at once taken to aid the government by organizing two companies of infantry, one of dragoons and one of artillery. Governor Black ap- pointed George F. Kennedy, of Florence, act- ing brigadier general of the First Nebraska Regiment, pending its organization and enroll- ment. Governor Saunders, who had succeed- ed to the executive chair, on May 18, 1861, issued his proclamation reciting the necessity of loyally supporting the government, and in- voked the aid of every lover of his country and his home to sustain and protect it. Steps were immediately taken to organize a regi- ment, and on the 2d day of July, 1861, the tenth and last company of the First Nebraska Regiment of Volunteers were sworn into the service of the United States. Men were drawn from all over the territory into this regiment. From Gage county came Samuel Shaw, who enlisted in Company B, June 13, 1861; Fred- erick Elwood, aged twenty-three, who went from Beatrice and enlisted in Company H; Jonathan Potts, twenty-seven years old, also from Beatrice, enlisted in Company M.

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History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time, Part 39

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849- Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company Number of Pages: 1120

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company
Number of Pages: 1120