USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 31
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 31
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State Normal School at Chadron. The Legislature of 1909, in addition to making the provision that resulted in acquiring the school at Wayne, provided for a similar state normal school in the northwestern part of the state, and Chadron was the successful contestant among the towns that sought that institution. An academy fostered by Congregational churches since 1888 laid the foundation for higher educational work at Chadron. Joseph Sparks was president of this school the first seven years after the state took it over, and Robert I. Elliott has served since 1916.
DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS
Of course, numerically, the vast majority of higher educational institutions in Nebraska have been established, fostered and sustained by the various religious denominations of the state.
Baptist. The great effort of this denomination has been centered upon Grand Island College, at Grand Island.
Catholic. The greatest effort of this church has been likewise centered upon Creighton University, at Omaha. These schools, which have been mentioned at more length carlier in this chapter, will not be so fully elaborated in this section. Of course the Catholic Church in Nebraska has built up and supported numerous other smaller educational institutions in Nebraska, in addition to a system of parochial graded and high schools which reaches almost all of the more important towns and villages of the state, where they have a very numerous membership.
Christian. The educational activities of this denomination have been mainly
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devoted to two institutions, Cotner University at Bethany, near Lincoln, and its predecessor, Fairfield College at Fairfield, in Clay County. The latter school was opened in 1884 and flourished until after its support was switched over to Cotner.
Presbyterian. The comments already furnished concerning Bellevue College at Bellevue, and Hastings College at Hastings, show the early entrance into the educational work and their persistent, continuous application to the same, demon- strated by this church. In addition to these, the Omaha Seminary was opened in Kountze Place, Omaha, in 1902. This developed into the new University of Omaha, which was established in 1915 and is a growing, flourishing institution, continuing not only the seminary work, but full collegiate work, with a law college, and plans to branch into other professional lines when circumstances permit.
United Brethren. The work of this church in educational lines was begun at Gibbon in 1886, with the establishment of the Gibbon Collegiate Institute. This school was re-located at York in 1890, which city had not been satisfied since it had lost its original York College in 1886 upon the establishment of Wesleyan University at University Place. The new York College started in 1890, had continued in a gradual growth and steady improvement for twenty years, and is now one of the important smaller colleges of the state.
Danish Lutherans. Their work educationally in this state, started at Argo, Neb., in 1884, with a school for future ministers. This developed later into the Trinity Theological Seminary at Blair, the first school of its kind among Danish Lutherans in the United States, and eventually at Blair was built up Dana College, now the leading Danish college of this country.
Lutheran Church. The Lutheran Seminary at Seward was founded in 1894, despite the drought conditions then existing, and has grown and prospered ever since then. At Deshler, Thayer County, the Lutherans have build and maintain a splendid institution. The Lutheran High School and Business College, main- tained by the Missouri Synod was built at Deshler in 1913. Luther, College started at Wahoo in 1882, is a continuing institution.
Seventh Day Adventists, This church has Union College at College View, which has become the official educational institution for a territory embracing over twenty states of the Union and reaching into western Canada.
Methodist Episcopal Church. The great educational institution of this church in this state has become Wesleyan University at University Place, near Lincoln. Mention has heretofore been made of York College, started in 1879 and later aban- doned for Wesleyan ; Central City Seminary opened in 1884, and a school at Bartley.
Congregational. Doane College has been the central educational activity of this congregation. The early academy at C'hadron has been mentioned. These people also in 1881 fostered the organization of an academy at Franklin, Neb. Weeping Water Academy was opened in 1885. A normal training school was main- tained for some years for the Santee Indians.
Lutheran Schools. The Lutheran Church has maintained schools at Hebron and a number of towns not given above. In 1920 Fremont was successful in securing the removal from Atchison, Kan., of the very successful college, Midland College, built up by the Lutheran people. For many years the late W. H. Clemmons who was state superintendent of public instruction at the time of his death, conducted a very successful business and normal college at Fremont.
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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
REMARKABLE SHOWING FOR PROUD NEBRASKA
By Eugene O. Mayfield
Fifty years ago one of my early duties was to roam over the long stretches of unbroken prairie of Nebraska, where in the valleys the tall bluestem grew luxuri- antly and on the upland shimmered in the sunshine, buffalo grass, as far as the eye could see. Planted by the kindly hand of nature, blossomed millions of cacti, wild roses and other of the most beautiful flowers in the world, among which were scattered profusely clusters of the shoestring, with its entangled root-creepers, buffalo peas and bumble-bee nests with their hoard of honey for the winter days. Then as now, I thought it the most beautiful picture possible-but the picture has faded, to live only in the memory of the pioneers of the West.
Gathering into piles, to be hauled to the farm home, "buffalo chips," was my mission, as it was that of other pioneer lads, the dried droppings of the bison, blistered and cured by the sun, making splendid fuel for winter, and practically all of the fuel that the early pioneers could obtain, trees growing only along the streams.
But fifty odd years have brought great changes. The breaking plow, often drawn by slow-moving oxen, has worked a transformation in the West unbelievable or undreamed of fifty years ago. Today there is but little prairie land, except along the western border, it having dissolved into cultivated farms on which are homes that equal, if not surpass, the best in the great union of states, thousands being modern throughout.
Pioneer Hardships. First came the hardships of the pioneers-some of whom remained while some went back to the old home in the East after deciding that the new West was only a desert. Then brighter days came, but only after a long pull against the tide-too, came as time passed, years of hot winds from the southwest that scorched to tinder even the wild grass; grasshoppers that ate up everything down to the earth; shivering cold winters and mountains of icy sleet and snow; storms of wind and rain and hail that laid low the growing crops of sod-corn and small grain.
But Nebraska's hardy pioneers weathered all of these handicaps. They had faith, unbounded, and in the end they won where weaker hearts would have failed and now, from north to south, east to west, one may travel to the confines of the state and see a vast garden and a happy, prosperous people-cities, towns, hamlets ; schools, churches and a world of patriotic pride, where fifty years ago were only huts and scattered settlements.
Nebraska is rich in everything one could wish. Its people more fortunate than others, have but few calls to assist the indigent. There are ninety-three coun- ties in the state, with a total population (as near as can be arrived at without the official government census report) of 1,295,502. These figures are based on an increase of 10 per cent during the past ten years, the population of 1910 being 1,192,214. In forty of the counties are no indigent or county poor farms. In fifty-three counties there are poor farms and indigent cared for on the farms, of which 355 are males and ninety-seven females, making a total of but 452 persons entirely kept by all the counties of a state having a population of 1,311,435. A remarkable showing, indeed-one that challenges any other state.
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Homes of the Poor. These fifty-three counties having poor farms and indigent cared for on them consist of 10,175 acres, cultivated by the counties, or leased for agriculture or hayland and grazing. The valuation placed on this land by the officials is $2,153,300.
In addition to those cared for on county poor farms the various counties of the state assist in their homes a total of but fifty-three male and female partially indigent, they being supplied from special funds available for that purpose.
Many of the county poor farms have great, roomy homes on them, modernized and beautiful lawns, orchards and flowers.
That each county may have the benefit of its showing, following will be found an authentic report which I have just completed, the facts and figures being taken from the county records-from records that did not exist except in rare instances, during the days when "buffalo chips" were at a premium.
Remarkable Showings. Holt County has no county poor farm or building. When there are indigent that require assistance they are assisted from the general fund. O'Neill is the county seat.
Hitchcock County has no poor farm or building. There are no indigent in that county. The county seat is at Trenton.
Pawnee County has no poor farm. At present ten persons are being assisted from the general fund, four males and six females. The county seat is Pawnee City.
Gage County has a 160-acre poor farm, where nine males and three females are cared for. The farm is valued at $30,000. Beatrice is the county seat.
Wayne County has no poor farm and only one person assisted in the way of paying a part of the house rent. Wayne is the county seat.
Perkins County has a $12,000 poor farm of 160 acres, but it is not improved. There are about a dozen persons taken care of, in part or in full, in the county. Grant is the county seat.
Chase County has no poor farm or home and no indigent requiring assistance. Imperial is the county seat.
Grant County has no poor farm and only one person, male, who is assisted from time to time as requirements demand. Hyannis is the county seat.
Box Butte County, with Alliance the county seat, has a 320-acre poor farm, on which is a nine-room brick building. Three males are cared for on the farm, the value of which is $18,000.
Rock County has no poor farm or building. There are only two indigent that the county pays $16 per month for their keep in private families. Bassett is the county seat.
Furnas County hasn't any indigent. However, it has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $15,000. The county seat is Beaver City.
Morrill County has no poor farm and no indigent. Bridgeport is the county seat.
Gosper County has a 320-acre poor farm, valued at $12,800, but no one to occupy it, as there are no indigent in that county. Ellwood is the county seat.
Saunders County, Wahoo county seat, has a 320-acre poor farm, valued at $96,000, on which are cared for ten males and two females.
Polk County, Osceola county seat, has a 200-acre poor farm, where are cared for two males and one female. The farm is valued at $45,000.
Boone County, Albion county seat, has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $35,000.
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The farm is rented out and the four female indigent are eared for, in part, by the county supplying them foodstuffs in their own homes.
Hall County, Grand Island county seat, has six indigent, five male and one female, who are cared for in a hospital, and the farm rented out, which consists of 160 acres, valued at $20,000.
Nuckolls County. Nelson county seat, has no indigent. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $16,000.
Boyd County, Butte county seat, has no indigent and no poor farm. There are four women receiving the mothers' pension.
Out at Broken Bow. Custer County, Broken Bow county seat, has a 100-acre poor farm, on which there is a twenty-two-room house, modern throughout, includ- ing barns and other buildings, all lighted with electricity from a plant located on the farm. There are five males and two females on the farm. The place is stocked with eight head of horses, twenty head of cattle, nine of which are milked, and eighty-five hogs. There was planted in crops this season 200 acres of corn, sixty acres of wheat, eighty acres of oats and fifteen acres of alfalfa. There are fifteen acres of wild hay, the remainder of the farm being pasture. This modern "poor" farm is valued at $100,000. It is in charge of a superintendent, matron, maid for house work and needed farm hands.
Sioux County, Harrison the county seat, has but one indigent male who is cared for by the county. The poor farm consists of but one town lot and building, valued at $1,000.
Thomas County, Hereford the county seat, has no indigent and no poor farm.
Blaine County, Dunning the county seat, has neither poor farm nor need for one. Only one person receives assistance as needed.
Howard County, St. Paul the county seat, has no indigent. It has a 160-acre poor farm, worth $12,000.
Jefferson County has a 320-acre poor farm, valued at $40,000. It cares for seven male inmates. Fairbury is the county seat.
Cuming County, West Point the county seat, has a 160-acre poor farm, valned at $64,000. Three male indigent are eared for.
Cheyenne County, of which Sidney is the county seat, has no poor farm and no need for one. No person there is receiving aid directly or indirectly from the county. There is no mothers' pension at present in foree. Cheyenne County is said to be the first in the world in the production of wheat, and in many other things ranks near the top noteh.
Wheeler County has no poor farm and no indigent. Bartlett is the county seat.
Frontier County has no poor farm. There two indigent, kept by private parties and assisted by the county. Stickville is the county seat.
Richardson County has twelve indigent, ten male and two female. It has a county farm of 120 acres, valued at $1,000. Falls City is the county seat.
Lincoln County has two male indigent and three females. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $75,000. North Platte is the county seat.
Buffalo County has four male indigent. It has a 240-acre poor farm, valued at $35,000. Kearney is the county seat.
Only One in Banner. Banner County has but one indigent, male, kept at a hospital. It has no county farm. Ilarrisburg is the county seat.
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Burt has four male indigent and a 200-acre county farm, valued at $60,000. Tekamalı is the county seat.
York has five indigent, four males and one female. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $50,000. York is the county seat.
Cass County has fourteen indigent, twelve males and two females. It has a 120-acre county farm, valued at $60,000. Plattsmouth is the county seat. The home is modern and roomy.
Greeley County has no county farm and but one indigent person, who is eared for in a hospital. Greeley is the county seat.
Scotts Bluff County has no poor farm or building. Whenever there is need of assistance the county takes care of the cases by pension, or pays for their keep in private homes. Scottsbluff is the county seat.
McPherson County has six partially indigent, three males and three females. This is one family which is only assisted, and is partially self-supporting. It has no poor farm. Tryon is the county seat.
Clay County has one male and one female indigent. It has a 320-aere county farm, valued at $40,000. Clay Center is the county seat.
Adams County has four male and one female indigent. It has a 320-acre poor farm, valued at $60,000. Hastings is the county seat.
Sheridan county has neither county poor farm nor indigent. Rushville is the county seat, and Maud E. Gillispie is the county clerk.
Brown County has no county poor farm or indigent. When occasion demands the poor are assisted by the county. Ainsworth is the county seat.
Loup County, Taylor the county seat, has no poor farm and no use for one, no indigent living in that eounty.
Hayes County has neither indigent nor county poor farm. Hayes Center is the county seat.
Knox Has None. Knox County has no county poor farm and no indigent. Center is the county seat.
Nemaha County has seven indigent, six males and one female. It has a 160-aere poor farm, valued at $30,000. Auburn is the county seat.
Sarpy County has two male indigent. It has a 60-acre poor farm, valued at $48,000. The indigent now being eared for have only been on the farm one year. Prior to that there were none for several years. Papillion is the county seat.
Pieree County has two indigent, males. It has a 200-acre poor farm, valued at $40,000. Pierce is the county seat.
Stanton County has two male indigent and a 20-aere poor farm, valued at $12,000. Stanton is the county seat.
Keya Paha County has no county poor farm and but one indigent person, male, whom the county assists. He is the first in a number of years. Springview is the county seat.
Valley County has no indigent. It has a 125-aere poor farm, valued at $18,000. Ord is the county seat.
Laneaster County has twenty-three indigent, twelve males and eleven females. It has a 240-aere poor farm, valued at $75,000. On the farm is a large fireproof modern building that cost $27,000 four years ago. Lincoln is the county seat.
Merrick County has three indigent, two males and one female, cared for in a
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hospital. Central City is the county seat. It has a county farm of 160 acres, valued at $15,000.
Seward County has four male and one female indigent. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $40,000. Seward is the county seat.
Sherman County has one male indigent and three mothers' pension cases. It owns, but rents out, a 320-acre farm, valued at $60,000. Loup City is the county seat.
Garfield County has no poor farm and no indigent. Burwell is the county seat. Dundy in the Clear. Dundy County has neither county poor farmi nor county indigent. Benkelman is the county seat.
Antelope County has no indigent. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $20,000. Neligh is the county seat.
Red Willow County has one male and one female indigent. It has a 40-acre poor farm, valued at $15,000. McCook is the county seat.
Platte County has five male indigent. It has a 240-acre poor farm, valued at $85,000. Columbus is the county seat.
Saline County has two male and three female indigent. It has a 320-acre poor farm, valued at $80,000. Wilber is the county seat.
Kearney County has neither poor farm nor county indigent. Minden is the county seat.
Otoe County has twelve indigent, ten males and two females. It has one of the most modern county farms in the state, consisting of 160 acres, valued at $50,000. Nebraska City is the county scat.
Douglas County has 205 indigent, cared for at the county farm, thirty-nine females and 166 males. It has a 40-acre poor farm, modern, valued at $120,000. Omaha is the county seat.
Dawson County has one male indigent and a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $32,000. Lexington is the county seat.
Johnson County has two indigent, males, and a 320-acre poor farm, valued at $35,000. Tecumseh is the county seat.
Nance County has no county poor fram and no indigent. Occasionally it is necessary to assist the poor, which is done through a county fund. Fullerton is the county seat.
Butler County has three male and one female indigent. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $44,000. David City is the county seat.
Webster County has one male and one female indigent. It has a 320-acre poor farm, valued at $30,000. Red Cloud is the county seat.
Only a Pension Here. Phelps County has no poor farm and no direct indigent -only one aged male who draws $12 a month. A few widows draw the mothers' pension. Holdrege is the county seat.
Keith County has one female indigent, who is cared for by the county in a private home. It has a five-acre poor farm, valued at $2,500. Ogallala is the county seat.
Kimball County has no poor farm or indigent. Kimball is the county seat.
Garden County has no county poor farm or indigent. Oshkosh is the county seat.
Deuel County has neither poor farm nor indigent. Chappell is the county seat.
Thurston County has five indigent that are cared for. It has no county poor farm. Pender is the county seat.
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Dodge County has ten indigent, eight males and two females. It has a 245-acre poor farm, valued at $85,000. Fremont is the county seat.
Fillmore County, Geneva county seat, has eleven indigent, eight males and three females. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $30,000.
Nothing Doing in Harlan. Harlan County has neither poor farm nor indigent. Alma is the county seat.
Colfax County has three male and two female indigent. It has a 160-acre county farm, valued at $56,000. Schuyler is the county seat.
Logan County has no indigent. It has a building used when necessary for the indigent, worth about $500. Gandy is the county seat.
Dakota County has three male indigent and an 80-acre poor farm, valued at $20,000. Dakota City is the county seat.
Cedar County, Harrington county seat, has five male indigent, and a county poor farm of 160 acres, valued at $28,000.
Thayer County, Hebron county seat, has no indigent. It has a 160-acre county farm, valued at $12,000.
Hooker County, Mullen county seat, has no indigent and no poor farm.
Dawes County, Chadron the county seat, has four male indigent and a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $5,000.
Arthur County has no indigent and no county poor farm. Arthur is the county seat.
Hamilton County has a 240-acre poor farm, on which there are three male and three female indigent. The farm is valued at $50,000. The county seat is Aurora.
Cherry County has neither county charges nor poor farm. The county seat is Valentine.
Franklin County has a 320-acre poor farm. It has no indigent. The farm is valued at $64,000. Franklin is the county seat.
Madison County has two male and three female indigent. It has a 160-acre poor farm, valued at $25,000. Madison is the county seat.
Dixon County has two male indigent at the poor farm, which consists of 160 acres and is valued at $35,000. Ponca is the county seat.
Washington County, Blair county seat, has three male indigent on its 160-acre poor farm. The farm is valued at $12,800.
(Reprinted from Omaha World Herald, October, 1920)
CHAPTER X
THE PRESS OF NEBRASKA
THE NEBRASKA PALLADIUM-THE OMAHA ARROW-THE NEBRASKIAN-THE NEBRASKA NEWS-TIIE BROWNVILLE ADVERTISER-THE OMAHA TIMES-EARLY PAPERS BY COUNTIES (taking about first seventy counties in alphabetical order )-NEBRASKA NEWSPAPERS OF TODAY-NEWSPAPERS IN 1920.
The press is the true exponent of the public pulse, and a true index of the character of the people that support it, and in view of that fact it is the intention of this compiler, while he cannot devote au adequate time and space in this work, to give each subject a thorough and elaborate treatment, to dwell at some length upon the history and development of the press of Nebraska.
A vivid portrayal of the rapidity with which the newspaper office followed the first settlers into each community, and the difficulties with which it remained, as evidence by the frequency with which the "voice of the community" personified in its town journal was changed, will probably more than any other thing illustrate the evolution of our great commonwealth.
The details of the struggles of the first few newspapers started in this state have been so well presented in the Andreas' History of Nebraska, 1882, that it is only giving just credit and tribute to that excellent work to reproduce here the story as it was told then, when the compiler of that record could yet get in touch with the living pioneers of the Nebraska press.
THE NEBRASKA PALLADIUM
The first newspaper published in Bellevue was also the first paper in the state. This early candidate for public favor was the Nebraska Palladium, which, after issuing fifteen numbers at St. Mary's on the Iowa shore, opposite Bellevue, crossed to the latter place, and then issued No. 16. The full title of the newcomer was the Nebraska Palladium and Platte Valley Advocate. It was published by Thomas Morton, D. E. Reed & Company, editors and proprietors. The first number con- tained two poems, one of which was "The Seer," by Whittier; a New York letter; a chapter on females, and an extract from the "Reveries of a Bachelor." There were also articles entitled "Newspapers," "Support Your Local Paper," "The Newspaper Press," "Know-Nothing." There was also an article on the "Location of the ('apital," and a notice of "Bellevue Claim Meeting." On the first column of the last page is the following announcement : "This is the first column of reading matter set up in the Territory of Nebraska. This was put in type on the 14th of November, 1854, by Thomas Morton." There were also several local advertise- ments or paid reading notices. Thus we see that: "I. H. Bennett has opened a
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