USA > Nebraska > History of Nebraska > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
WASHINGTON COUNTY was bounded as follows: Commencing at a point on the Missouri River, one mile north of Omaha City, thence due west to the dividing ridge between the Elkhorn and Missouri Rivers, thence northwestwardly twenty miles to the Elk- horn River, thence eastwardly to a point on the Missouri River, two.
.
43
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
miles above Fort Calhoun, and thence southerly along said River, to the place of beginning.
Precinct-There was one precinct or place of voting in said County, viz: At the Postoffice at Florence. Anselam' Arnold, Charles How and William Bryant were appointed judges of elec- tion, and Henry Springer and William More clerks of same.
DODGE COUNTY was bounded as follows: Commencing at a point on the Platte River, twenty miles west of Bellevue, thence westwardly, along the said Platte River, to the mouth of Shell Creek, thence north twenty-five miles, thence east to the dividing ridge between the Elkhorn and Missouri rivers, and thence south- erly, to the place of beginning.
Precinct-There was one precinct or place of voting in said County, viz: At the house of Dr. M. H. Clark, in Fontenelle pre- cinct. William Kline, Christopher S. Leiber and Wm. S. Estley were appointed judges of election, and Wm. Taylor and E. G. Mc- Neely, clerks of same.
DOUGLAS COUNTY was bounded as follows: Commencing at the mouth of the Platte River, thence north along the west bank of the Missouri River, to a point one mile north of Omaha City, thence west along the south boundary of Washington County, twenty miles, thence south ten miles, more or less, to the Platte River, and thence east to the place of beginning.
Precincts-There were two precincts or places of voting in said County, viz: One at the brick building at Omaha City and one at the Mission House at Bellevue. David Lindley, T. G. Goodwill and Chas. B. Smith were appointed judges of election in the Omaha precinct, and M. C. Gaylord and Dr. Pattee, clerks of same. Isaiah Bennet, D. E. Reed and Thos. Morton were appointed judges of the Bellevue precinct, and G. Hollister and Silas A. Strickland, clerks of the same.
CASS COUNTY was bounded as follows: North by the Platte River, east by the Missouri, south by the Weeping Water River to its head waters, thence westwardly to the west boundary of lands ceded to the United States, and thence by said boundary, north to the Platte River.
Precincts .- There were two precincts or places of voting in said County, viz .: one at the house of Colonel Thompson, in
44
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
Kanosha precinct, and one at the house of Samuel Martin, in Martin's precinct. J. S. Griffith, Thomas B. Ashley and L. Young were appointed judges of election in Kanosha precinct and Benjamin B. Thompson and Wm. H. Davis, clerks of the same. James O'Neil, Thos. P. Palmer and Stephen Willes were appointed judges of election in Martin's precinct, and T. S. Gaskill and Levi G. Todd, clerks of the same.
PIERCE COUNTY was bounded as follows: Commencing at the month of the Weeping Water River, on the Missouri River, thence westwardly, along the south bank of the same, to its head waters, thence due west, to the west boundary of lands ceded to the United States, (100 miles,) thence south twenty miles, to the north line of Forney County, thence due east, along the north line of said Forney County to Camp Creek, and along the north bank of said Creek, to the Missouri River, and thence northwardly along said River to the place of beginning.
Precinct .- There was one precinct or place of voting in said County, viz .: at the house of Major H. P. Downs. Wm. C. Fowlkes, Simpson Hargons and Henry Bradford were appointed judges of election, and James H. Cowles and James H. Decker, clerks of the same.
FORNEY COUNTY was bounded as follows: Commencing at the month of Camp creek, thence to the head waters of the same, thence due west to a point sixty miles from the Missouri river, thence due sonth twenty miles, thence east to the head waters of the Little Nemaha River, thence along the north bank of said River to the Missouri River, and thence along the Missouri River north to the place of beginning.
Precinct .- There was one precinct or place of voting in said County, viz .: at the place known as Brownville, at the house of Richard Brown. Richard Brown, Allen L. Coate and Israel Cuming were appointed judges of election, and A. J. Benedict and Stephen Sloan, clerks of same.
RICHARDSON COUNTY was bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of the half breed tract, thence westwardly along the south bank of the Little Nemaha River, thence west- wardly to a point sixty miles west of the Missouri River, thence south to the 40th parallel, the boundary between Kansas and
45
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
Nebraska, thence east along said boundary, to the Missouri River, thence north along the Missouri River and west ten miles to the southwest corner of the half breed tract, and thence northerly, along the boundary of said tract to the place of beginning.
Precincts .- There were two precincts or places of voting in said County, .viz .: one at the house of Wm. Level, in precinct No. 1; the second at the house of Christian Bobst, in precinct No. 2. John Purket, Robert, T. Archer and James M. Roberts were appointed judges of election of the first precinct, and Wm. W. Soper and John A. Singleton, Clerks of the same; and Henry Shellhorn, Henry Abrams and Wm. J. Burns, judges of election in precinct No. 2, and Christian Bobst and W. L. Soper, clerks of the same.
An enumeration of the inhabitants of the Territory was made in accordance with a proclamation of the Acting Governor, dated October 21, 1854, and the following apportionment of Councilmen and Representatives was made in accordance with the census returns of November 20th:
BURT COUNTY .- One Councilman, two Representatives.
WASHINGTON COUNTY .- One Councilman, two Representatives.
DODGE COUNTY .- One Councilman, two Representatives. DOUGLAS COUNTY .- Four Councilmen, eight Representatives. CASS COUNTY .- One Councilman, three Representatives. PIERCE COUNTY .- Three Councilmen, five Representatives.
FORNEY COUNTY .- One Councilman, two Representatives.
RICHARDSON COUNTY .- One Councilman, two Representatives.
The first general election for members of the Legislature and a delegate to Congress, was held on December 12th, 1854, in pursu- unce of a proclamation dated November 23d, and by proclamation of December 20th, the Legislative Assembly was convened at Omaha on the 16th day of January, 1855.
The following gentlemen composed the first Legislature:
COUNCIL.
RICHARDSON COUNTY .- J. L. Sharp, President.
BURT COUNTY .- B. R. Folsom.
WASHINGTON COUNTY .- J. C. Mitchell.
DODGE COUNTY .- M. H. Clark.
DOUGLAS COUNTY .- T. G. Goodwill, A. D. Jones, O. D. Richardson, S. E. Rogers.
CASS COUNTY .- Luke Nuckolls.
46
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
PIERCE COUNTY .- A. H. Bradford, H. P. Bennet, C. H. Cowles. FORNEY COUNTY .- Richard Brown.
OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL-Dr. G. L. Miller, Omaha, Chief Clerk; O. F. Lake, Brownville, Assistant Clerk; S. A. Lewis, Omaha, Sergeant-At-Arms; N. R. Folsom, Tekamah, Doorkeeper.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DOUGLAS COUNTY .- A. J. Hanscom, Speaker; W. N. Byers, Wm. Clancy, F. Davidson, Thomas Davis, A. D. Goyer, A. J. Popple- ton, Robt. Whitted.
BURT COUNTY .- J. B. Robertson, A. C. Purple.
WASHINGTON COUNTY .- A. Archer, A. J. Smith.
DODGE COUNTY .- E. R. Doyle, J. W. Richardson.
CASS COUNTY .-- J. M. Latham, Wm. Kempton, J. D. H. Thompson.
PIERCE COUNTY .- G. Bennet, J. II. Cowles, J. H. Decker, W. H. Hail, Wm. Maddox.
FORNEY COUNTY .- W. A. Finney, J. M. Wood.
RICHARDSON COUNTY .- D. M. Johnson, J. A. Singleton.
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE .- J. W. Paddock, Chief Clerk; G. L.
Eayre, Assistant Clerk; J. L. Gibbs, Sergeant-At-Arms; B. B. Thompson, Doorkeeper.
Hon. Napoleon B. Giddings, was elected as Nebraska's first delegate to Congress.
The Territory was divided into three Judicial Districts, which was made public by proclamation on December 20th, 1854. Hon. Fenner Ferguson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was assigned to the First Judicial District, embracing the Counties of Douglas and Dodge; Hon. Edward R. Hardin, Assistant Justice Supreme Court to the Second Judicial District, embracing all that portion of the Territory lying south of the Platte River; and Hon. James Bradley, Assistant Justice Supreme Court, to the Third Judicial District, embracing the Counties of Washington and Burt.
Judges of Probate, Justice of the Peace, Sheriff's, Constables, and Clerks of the Court, were also designated for the several Counties.
The erection of a Capitol building was commenced at Omaha in the fall of 1855, and completed by January, 1858. It was a commodious brick structure, and occupied a commanding posi- tion on Capitol Hill.
Hon. Mark W. Izard, of Arkansas, the second Governor, relieved Acting Governor Cuming, in February, 1855. He was
47
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
succeeded in 1857, by IIon. William A. Richardson, of Illinois, who resigned in April, 1858. Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Secretary of the Territory, acted in the interim, and was relieved by Hon. Samuel Black, appointed by President Buchanan, in 1859, who served until succeeded by Hon. Alvin Saunders, of Mount Pleas- ant, Iowa, in 1861, appointed by President Lincoln. Governor Saunders continued in office until the admission of the State in 1867.
NEBRASKA ADMITTED AS A STATE.
In March, 1860, the question of forming a State Government was submitted to the people and disapproved by a vote of 1,877 to 1,987. On April 19th, 1864, an enabling act was passed by Congress providing for the admission of Nebraska into the Union, but the necessary action for admission was not taken at that time by the Territory. The continuance of the war and the prevalence of Indian hostilities checked the growth of Nebraska; but pros- perity came with the return of peace. Early in 1866 the Terri- torial Legislature framed a Constitution, which was ratified by the people on June 21st. The first Legislature under the new Government assembled July 4th. On the 28th a bill for the admission of Nebraska as a State was passed by Congress, but did not receive the signature of the President. In January, 1867 another bill for this purpose was passed, but was vetoed by the President on the ground that it embraced conditions not contained in the enabling Act, that the proceedings attending the formation of the Constitution were different from those prescribed, and that the population of the Territory did not justify its becoming a State. The bill, however, was passed over the executive veto by a vote of thirty to nine in the Senate, February Sth, and one hundred and twenty to forty-four in the House on the following day. The act was not to take effect " except upon the funda- mental condition that within the State of Nebraska there shall be no denial of the elective franchise, or of any other right, to any person by reason of race or color, except Indians not taxed; and upon the further fundamental condition that the legislature of said State by a solemn public act shall declare the assent of said State to the said fundamental condition." This act was ratified by the Legislature which assembled at Omaha on February 20th for that
48
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
purpose, and compliance with the Congressional conditions was announced by proclamation of the President of the United States, March 1st, 1867.
Immediately after the admission of the State the Legislature decided to move the Capitol from Omaha to some other point. Commissioners were appointed to determine where this should be. In October, 1867, LANCASTER, a town of half a dozen houses, in Lancaster County, was selected, and this selection was approved by the Legislature. The new Capitol was named LINCLON, in honor of the President.
David Butler, the first Governor, was elected in 1866, but did not commence the duties of his office until the admission of the State into the Union, in 1867. He was re-elected October 8th, 1868, and October 13th, 1870. He was impeached and removed from office June 2d, 1871, the vacancy being filled by the Secretary, William H. James, until the inauguration of Governor Robert W. Furnas, on January 13th, 1873, Hon. Silas Garber was elected Governor in October, 1874, and re-elected in October, 1876.
Governor Albinus Nance, the present incumbent, was inau- gurated January 9, 1879.
On May 2d, 1871, delegates were elected to a Convention to frame a new State Constitution. This Convention was in session from June 5th to August 19th, and completed a Constitution which was rejected by the people September 19th. However, the need for a new fundamental law being urgently felt, a second Constitutional Convention was convened at the Capitol during the summer of 1875, and the new instrument submitted by it was approved by the peo- ple at the general election held in October, 1875. The first Legis. lature under the new Constitution met on the first Monday in January, 1877. The Constitution provides that the House of Rep- resentatives shall consist of eighty-four members, and the Senate of thirty members, until the year 1880, after which time the number of members of each House shall be regulated by law; but the number of Representatives shall never exceed one hundred, nor that of Senators thirty-three.
The first United States Senators from Nebraska were John M. Thayer and Thomas W. Tipton, and the first Representative, after its admission into the Union, was John Taffe.
49
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
The following is a list of United States Senators from Nebraska since its admission.
JOHN M. THAYER, 1867-73. THOMAS W. TIPTON, 1867-75.
PHINEAS W. HITCHCOCK, 1871-77. ALGERNON S. PADDOCK, 1875-81. ALVIN SAUNDERS, 1877-83.
DELEGATES AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Napoleon B. Giddings, Dec. 12, 1854. Phineas W. Hitchcock, Oct. 11, 1864.
Bird B. Chapman, Nov. 6, 1855 John Taffe, Oct. 9, 1866.
Fenner Ferguson, Aug. 3, 1857. Lorenzo Crounse, Oct. 8, 1872.
Experience Estabrook, Oct. 11, 1859. Frank Welch, (a) Nov. 7, 1876.
Samuel G. Daily, Oct. 9, 1860. Thomas J. Majors (b) Nov. 5, 1878. E. K. Valentine, Nov. 5, 1878.
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEBRASKA IN THE FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
SENATORS .- Algernon S. Paddock, Alvin Saunders. REPRESENTATIVE .- E. K. Valentine.
LIST OF THE FEDERAL OFFICERS OF THE TERRITORY AND STATE- JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT-CHIEF JUSTICES.
Fenner Ferguson, Oct. 12, 1854. Wm. A. Little, (a) 1866.
Augustus Hall, March 25, 1858. Oliver P. Mason, (c) 1867.
Wm. Pitt Kellogg, May 27, 1861. George B. Lake, (d) Jan. 16, 1873.
William Kellogg, May 8, 1865. Daniel Gantt, (e) Jan. 3, 1878.
Samuel Maxwell, (f) May 29, 1878.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
Edward R. Hardin, Dec. 4, 1854.
Joseph E. Streeter, Nov. 18, 1861. Elmer S. Dundy, June 22, 1863.
James Bradley, Oct. 25, 1854,
Samuel W. Black, - Geo. B. Lake, Feb. 21, 1867.
Eleazer Wakley, April 22, 1857.
Lorenzo Crounse, Feb. 21, 1867.
Joseph Miller, April 9, 1859. Daniel Gantt, Jan. 16, 1873.
Wm. F. Lockwood, May 16, 1861.
Samuel Maxwell, Jan. 16, 1873. Amasa Cobb, May 29, 1878
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS.
Hon. John F. Dillon, Circuit Judge. James Neville, District Attorney. Hon. Elmer S. Dundy, District Judge. William Daily, U. S. Marshal. Watson B. Smith, Clerk.
(a) Died in office.
(b) Elected for unexpired term.
(c) Appointed to fill vacancy.
(d) Re-elected, October 12, 1875, under provisions of Constitution.
(e) Chief Justice under provisions of Constitution. Died May 19th, 1878. (f) Chief Justice under provisions of Constitution. 4
50
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
UNITED STATES MARSHALS.
Mark W. Izard, Oct. 28, 1854. P. W. Hitchcock, Sept. 19, 1861. Casper E. Yost, April 1, 1865.
Eli R. Doyle, April 7, 1855.
Benj. P. Rankin, March 29, 1856. J. T. Hoile, July 1, 1869. William Daily, -, 1871.
OFFICERS OF THE TERRITORY AND STATE OF NEBRASKA SINCE ITS ORGANIZATION.
GOVERNORS.
Francis Burt, (a) Oct. 16, 1854. Alvin Saunders, May 15, 1861.
Mark W. Izard, Feb. 20, 1855. David Butler, Feb. 21, 1867.
Wm. A. Richardson, (b) Jan. 12, 1858. Robert W. Furnas, Jan. 13, 1873.
Samuel W. Black, May 2, 1858. Silas Garber, (c) Jan. 11, 1875. Albinus Nance, Jan. 9, 1879.
SECRETARIES.
Thomas B. Cuming, (d) Aug. 13, 1854. Thomas P. Kennard, Feb. 21, 1867. Jolın B. Motley, (e) Mar. 23, 1858. Wm. H. James, (h) Jan. 10, 1871.
J. Sterling Morton, (f) July 12, 1858. John J. Gosper, Jan. 13, 1873.
Algernon S. Paddock, (g) May 6, 1861. Bruno Tzschuck, (¿) Jan. 11, 1875. S. J. Alexander, Jan. 9, 1879.
AUDITORS.
Chas. B. Smith, Mar. 16, 1855. Wm. E. Harvey, Oct. 8, 1861.
Samuel S. Campbell, Aug. 3, 1857. Jolm Gillespie, Oct. 10, 1865.
Wm. E. Moore, June 1, 1858. J. B. Weston, (¿) Jan. 13, 1873.
Robt. C. Jordan, Aug. 2, 1858. F. W. Leidtke, Jan. 9, 1879.
TREASURERS.
B. P. Rankin, Mar. 16, 1855. Henry A. Koenig, Jan. 10, 1871.
Wm. W. Wyman, Nov. 6, 1855. J. C. McBride, (¿) Jan. 11, 1875.
Augustus Kountze, Oct. 8, 1861. Geo. M. Bartlett, Jan. 9, 1879.
James Sweet, Jan. 11, 1869.
(a) Died October, 1854. the office being filled by T. B. Cuming, Secretary, until the appointment of Governor Izard.
(b) Resigned, the office being filled by J. Sterling Morton, Secretary, until the arrival of Governor Black.
(c) Re-elected November 7, 1876.
(d) Acting Governor from Oct., 1854, to Feb. 20, 1855, and from Oct. 25, 1857, to Jan. 12, 1858. Died March 12, 1858.
(e) Acting Secretary until the arrival of J. Sterling Morton.
(f) Acting Governor from Dec. 5, 1858, to May 2, 1859, and from Feb. 24, 1860, to 1861.
(g) Acting Governor from May 15, 1861, and during a greater portionof the period to 1867. (h) Acting Governor upon impeachment and removal of Governor Butler, and until Jan. 13, 1873.
(1) Re-elected Nov. 7, 1876.
51
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
LIBRARIANS.
James S. Izard, Mar. 16, 1855. Robt. S. Knox, -, 1861.
H. C. Anderson, Nov. 6, 1855.
John H. Kellom, Aug. 3, 1857.
Alonzo D. Luce, Nov. 7, 1859.
Thos. P. Kennard, June 22, 1867. Wm. H. James, Jan. 10, 1871. Guy A. Brown, Mar. 3, 1871.
ATTORNEY GENERALS.
Seth Robinson, -, 1869. Geo. H. Roberts (a) Jan. 11, 1375.
Geo. H. Roberts. Jan. 10, 1871. C. J. Dilworth. Jan. 9, 1879. J. R. Webster, Jan. 13, 1873,
SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION (b).
Seth W. Beals, -, 1869. S. R. Thompson, (c) -, 1877.
J. M. Mckenzie, Jan. 10, 1871. S. R. Thompson, -, 1878.
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS AND BUILDINGS (d). F. M. Davis, (c) 1877.
THE POPULAR VOTE OF NEBRASKA FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SINCE 1855.
TOTAL
1855-Bird B. Chapman, 380; Hiram P. Bennett, 292; Scattering, 18 .. 690 1857-Fenner Ferguson, 1,642; Bird B. Chapman, 1,559; Benjamin P. Rankin, 1,241; John M. Thayer, 1,171; Scattering, 21. 5,634
1859-Experience Estabrook, 3,100; Samuel G. Daily, 2,800. 5,900
1860-J. Sterling Morton, 2,957; Samuel G. Daily, 2,943. 5,900
1862-Samuel G. Dally, 2,331; John F. Kinney, 2,180 .. 4,511 1864-Phineas W. Hitchcock, 3,241 ; Geo. L. Miller, 2,399 ; Scattering, 2 .. 5,822 1866-John Taffe, 4,820; Algernon S. Paddock, 4,072; George Francis Train, 30. 8,922
1868-John Taffe, 8,724; Andrew J. Poppleton, 6,318. 15,042 1870-John Taffe, 12,375; George B. Lake, 7,967. .20,342
1872-Lorenzo Crounse, 17,124; Jesse F. Warner, 10,412. .27,536
1874-Lorenzo Crounse, 22,532; James W. Savage, 8,386; James G. Miller, 4,074; James W. Davis, 972. .35,964 1876-Frank Welch, (Rep.) 30,900; Joseph Holman, (Dem.) 17,206; M. Warren, (Greenb'k), 3,579; Scattering, 89. .51,774 1878-E. K. Valentine, (Rep.) 28,341; J. W. Davis, (Dem. and Grenb'k), 21,752; Scattering, 21. .50,247
(a) Re-elected Nov. 7, 1876.
(b) Office created by act, Feb. 15, 1869.
(c) Chosen at election, Nov. 7, 1876.
(d) Office created by Constitution of 1875.
52
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
POPULAR VOTE FOR GOVERNOR SINCE FIRST ELECTION IN 1866.
TOTAL
1866-David Butler, 4,093; J. Sterling Morton, 3,948 8,041
1868-David Butler, 8,576; J. R. Porter, 6349 14,925
1870-David Butler, 11,126; John H. Croxton, 8,648. 19,774 1872-Robert W. Furnas, 16,543; Henry G. Lett, 11,227. .27,770 1874-Silas Garber, 21,568; Albert Tuxbury, 8,046; J. F. Gardner, 4,159; J. S. Church, 1,346. .36,019
1876-Silas Garber, 31,947; Paren England, 17,219; J. F. Gardner, 3,022; Scattering, 36. 52,234 1878-Albinus Nance, 29,469; W. H. Webster, 18,417; Levi G. Todd, 9,475 .52,417
29
CHAPTER II.
- INDIANS.
THE OMAHAS-THE PAWNEES-THE OTOES-THE SANTEE SIOUX- THE WINNEBAGOS-THIE PONCAS -- THE IOWAS AND SACS AND Fox.
In 1854, when Nebraska was admitted into the Union, there were, as nearly as can be estimated, 10,000 Indians on reservations in the Territory, the greater portion of them living in the eastern part, in permanent villages, along the Missouri and Platte Rivers, and their tributaries, while in the northwestern part there were several roving bands of the great Sioux nation, of whom those in the eastern part stood in mortal fear.
THE OMAHAS,
Numbering between 900 and 1,000 at that time, occupied the country lying along the Missouri, extending from the mouth of the Platte River, northward to the old Council Bluffs of Lewis and Clarke, in Washington County, and westward some forty miles. Their main villages were at Bellevue (Sarpy County) and Saling's Grove, on the Big Papillion, eight miles distant, where they had lived most of the time since 1830.
The Omahas are a tribe of the Dakota family. Marquette represents them on his map in 1673, and about 1766 Cover found them on the St. Peter's, where they formed two tribes-the Hon- gashanos and the Ishbanondas, or Grey Eyes-divided into thir- teen clans, one of which preserved a sacred shell in a rude temple, constantly guarded. They cultivated corn, beans and melons.
LIII
54
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
Among their customs was one preventing a man from speaking with his father-in-law or mother-in-law. Just what length of time this tribe was known on the Missouri is difficult to ascertain, but somewhere about the year 1780, they crossed over the country from the Upper Lakes and settled on the Missouri, at or near the mouth of the Big Sioux River, in Iowa, at which time there was a band of Cheyennes with them. Shortly afterward they crossed to the west side of the Missouri and settled on the Niobrara, near its mouth, at which place Lewis and Clarke found them in June, 1804, num- bering about 600. Being pursued relentlessly by the Sioux, and greatly reduced in numbers by small-pox, they burned their village on the Niobrara and removed to the Blackbird hills, about 100 miles further down the Missouri, where they have resided at times for more than half a century. Treaties were made with them on July 20th, 1815, September 23d, 1825, and July 15th, 1830, ceding lands at Council Bluffs for an annuity, blacksmith shop and agri- cultural implements. After this last treaty they formed their vil- lages at Bellevue, near the trading post of Colonel Peter A. Sarpy, and at Saling's Grove, where they remained until June, 1855. The Sioux frequently drove them to the Elkhorn River, but in 1843 they returned to their villages and made peace with certain bands of the Sioux. A mission begun in 1839 failed, and one established in 1846, had but little success. By treaty of March 16, 1854, more of their lands were ceded, and in the following year they were re- moved to their present reservation of 345,000 acres in the north- eastern part of the State, between the Missouri and Elkhorn Rivers. Since then they have devoted themselves to agriculture, and their condition has rapidly improved. In 1879 they numbered about 1,050. Their Great Chief, Logan Fontenelle, was killed by the Sioux while on a hunting expedition, in July, 1855.
THE PAWNEES,
In 1854, lived on the south bank of the Platte River, their main village being a few miles east of where Fremont now stands. They numbered then between 4,000 and 5,000. They had been residents of Nebraska for a century or more, and are spoken of by both Spanish and French explorers as being a warlike and powerful nation, and the most numerous of any west of the Missouri. They
55
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
were first heard of through the Illinois, and the name is of that language. Marquette noted several bands on his map in 1673. They were hostile toward the Spaniards but have always been friendly toward the Americans. Their first stopping place on the west side of the Missouri River seems to have been at the conflu- ence of the Republican, which place they soon abandoned, however, moving a considerable distance up the latter stream, where they established a large permanent village of earth-covered lodges, and cultivated corn, beans and melons, frequently going off to the buffalo lands to hunt and meet their enemies in warfare. They claimed the country south to the Kansas River and north to the Platte. Pike, in 1806, estimated the population of three villages at 6,223, with two thousand warriors. They were divided into four bands- Tswa (Grand Pawnee), Tskithka Petower Kattahankies (Republi- can Pawnee), Tapage Pawnee and Sker Pawnee, Mahas or Loups. They were constantly at war with the Sioux and other tribes. From time to time they sacrificed prisoners to the sun to obtain good crops and success in warfare. Anyone was at liberty to offer up a prisoner that they had captured in warfare. The victim was clothed in the gayest apparel and fed and feasted on the best that could be had, and when sufficiently fattened for their purpose, a suitable day was appointed for the sacrifice, so that the whole nation might attend. The unfortunate victim was then bound to a cross in the presence of the assembled multitude, after which a solemn dance and other ceremonies were performed, and at their conclusion the warrior whose prisoner he had been, stepped forward and cleaved his head with a tomahawk, the other warriors filling his body with arrows. This barbarous custom, however, was finally stopped in 1820, through the influence of the missionaries.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.