History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 24

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 24

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Doubtless the oldest house now standing in Omaha is one built by Timothy Kelly, a frame structure on Thirteenth Street, between Cass and Chicago, which he built in 1854, moving into it December 20th. Until recently a log honse, weatherboarded and presenting the appearance of a frame build- ing, stood on the south side of St. Mary's Avenue, just west of Mr. Woolworth's residence, which was built by Harrison Johnson in 1854. The property had been owned for many years by W. J. Connell and a two-story building had been erected by

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BUILDINGS ERECTED AT AN EARLY DAY.

him on the south of the old structure. Mrs. Cuming's residence, at the southwest corner of Dodge and Eighteenth Streets, was built in 1855. A small brick building at the northeast corner of Harney and Fourteenth, used for many years as a blacksmith shop, was erected in 1855, by J. B. Allen. The John M. Clarke house, northwest corner of Seventeenth and Capitol Avenue, was built in 1857, as was also the Cahn house, a brick building on the south side of Dodge between Sixteenth and Seventeenth, recently torn down. On the north side of Dodge, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth, is a brick residence which James Izard, son of the governor, built in 1856. In that year George Clayes built a frame building, which is still stand- ing, on the west side of Eleventh, between Douglas and Dodge. The small brick build- ing just west of the First Presbyterian Church, on Dodge Street, was erected by John Withnell, in 1856. The Thomas Davis house, a brick building at the southeast corner of Howard and Ninth, was built in 1856 or 1857. The frame building, No. 1111 Davenport, was erected by Byron Reed, in 1857. The brick residence on Davenport, near Seventeenth, known as the Patriek property, was built by M. T. Patrick, in 1857. The Goodwill house, on the same street, near Fifteenth, was built by T. G. Goodwill, in 1856. In that year the brick structure standing at the southeast corner of Thirteenth and Capitol Avenue, owned by Frederick Dellone, was built in 1856.

East of the Williams Block, on Dodge Street, is a brick dwelling, and on the north- west corner of 1Iarney and Ninth is another, both of which were erected by Jesse Lowe, in 1856. The brick residence occupied by General W. W. Lowe, southwest corner of Harney and Sixteenth, was erected by his father, Dr. Enos Lowe, about the year 1857.

The frame house on the south side of Capitol Avenue, near Fifteenth, was moved to that lot, in 1860, from Florence, by Cap- tain C. II. Downs. That same year a frame

building, which now stands on the south side of Cass, near Thirteenth, was erected by William Florkee, on the lot now occupied by the American National Bank Building, and was known for several years as the Union Hotel. The brick house yet standing at the northwest corner of Dodge and Eighteenth Streets was built at an early date by John McCormick, who died within its walls June 2, 1884. In the first city directory of Omaha, printed in 1866, this house is referred to as "next to the capitol itself, it is the first thing that attracts the eye of the stran- ger visiting or passing through the city." Near the northeast corner of Jackson and Eleventh Streets, facing south, is yet stand- ing an old frame building which was occupied as a home for many years by the family of Rev. Reuben Gaylord, two rooms of which Mr. Gaylord bought in the summer of 1856. They were a mere shell, built of cottonwood lumber the year previously.

For many years it was generally believed that coal in paying quantities could be found in the vicinity of Omaha. In September, 1871, Thomas Wardell, an experienced miner, made a proposition to the Council to prospect for coal within the city limits for a reasonable bonus, and in October a resolu- tion was offered calling for a special election to vote upon the proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $7,000 in aid of the project. Another resolution was offered increasing the amount to $10,000, to be expended in boring for coal " within a rea- sonable distance of the city," which was adopted. Later the amount was reduced to $4,000, and then a resolution was adopted to the effect that, if private individuals desire to bore for coal, in or about Omaha, at their own expense, they were at liberty to do so, and with that the subject was dropped. In the spring of 1871 Professor Hayden, of the United States Geological Corps, was invited to address the Board of Trade upon the subject of coal formations of the West and to give his opinion as to the

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

probability of finding coal near Omaha. He spoke at considerable length, describing the coal beds of the West, and gave it as his opinion that if coal were found at all near Omaha, in veins of sufficient thickness to be worked, it would be at such great deptlı as to be practically valueless. In 1887 half a dozen public-spirited citizens of Omaha contributed generously to a purse to be used in boring for coal in the vicinity of the Willow Springs Distillery. The best machin- cry obtainable for such purposes was procured and the work carried on for several months with great zeal but was finally abandoned. In the meantime, as the price of coal has been steadily reduced to Omaha consumers, and manufacturing interests cor- respondingly benefited, the incentive to experiments in this line has been, to a large degree, removed. A hole 1,400 feet deep was drilled last year on the Little Papillion,

near Lawnfield, in a vain search for natural gas, at the expense of a number of Omaha capitalists.

The first asphaltum pavement laid in the city was on Douglas street, from Fourteenth to Sixteenth Street, in the fall of 1882. It was put down at a cost to the city of $2.98 a yard, by the Barber Asphalt Company, under the superintendency of John Grant. It was composed of a six inch concrete base, one-half inch of cushion top and two inches of asphaltum. There are three classes of this work now done in Omaha, that above described being called class " A," and is the most expensive. Class " B" has four inches of concrete base and two inches of asphalt top. Class "C" has a base of three inches of broken stone coated withi coal tar, one and a half inches of broken stone, or slag, covered by a hot preparation of tar, and on this an inch and a half of asphalt paving material.

CHAPTER XVI.

MILITARY HISTORY - INDIAN DIFFICULTIES - FORT OMAHA.

The military history of Omaha dates back to 1855, when, pursuant to an act of the Territorial Legislature of the preceding session, two regiments of militia were " offi- cered" (and they consisted entirely of officers) as follows:

First Regiment-A. J. Hanscom, colonel; William C. James, lieutenant-colonel; IIascal C. Purple, major; J. D. N. Thompson and Thomas L. Griffey, adjutants; John B. Roberts, quartermaster; Anselum Arnold, commissary; M. B. Clark, surgeon; George L. Miller, assistant surgeon.

Second Regiment-David M. Johnson, colonel ; Richard Brown, quartermaster; Gideon Bennet, commissary ; William McLennan, adjutant; Isaiah HI. Crane, sur- geon; William Hamilton, assistant surgeon.

In July of that year a Mr. Porter and his wife, and a young man named Demaree, while encamped at Sam Francis' Lake, near Fon- tenelle, were surprised by a straggling band of Sioux Indians, who came upon them sud- denly. A short parley was had, when one of the Indians snatched up Demaree's hat and was riding off with it when Demaree called out to him to bring the hat back, whereupon the Indians opened fire upon the whites, killing both the men, and rode hurriedly away. Great excitement followed this affair. The settlers at Fontenelle hastily made preparations to resist the attack, which it was supposed would be made, as the country then abounded with Indians of various tribes, all more or less hostile, and the Gov- ernor was appealed to for aid. A few days later a company was sent up from Omaha, of which William E. Moore was captain,

John Y. Clopper first lientenant and George Hepburn second lieutenant. A company was also organized at Fontenelle, with William Kline as captain, Russell McNealy first lieutenant, and John W. Pattison (for- merly editor of the Omaha Arrow), second lieutenant. These " troops " encamped in the little settlement gave the people a sense of security. As no attack was attempted, the militiamen had no chance to show their bravery, or want of it, but spent so much of their time in fishing along the banks of the Elkhorn that their campaign was christened "the catfish war," by the grateful and appreciative settlers.

At the time of the expedition against the Mormons, which was organized by the gov- ernment in the fall of 1857, anxiety was felt throughout the West as to the outcome. In April, 1858, the following contribution, signed " Fair Warning," was printed in the Omaha Times :

"Circumstances of the most alarming character are being developed which should arouse attention to the movements of the Mormons in this locality and which already warrant and loudly demand of the United States Government that a military point (post?) be established not far distant from this city. Not less than one hundred of these people are now housed in our midst. It is well-known that near Florence, but six miles distant from us, the Saints have a village on the north bank of Mill Creek, where are their warehouses, hotel and other fixtures requisite for fitting up a small army without risk of detection. There, too, are their powder magazines.

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

"In our city just now a great stir is going on amongst them, but for what immediate purpose is not known. It is known, how- ever, that every saintly dollar not absolutely required to keep together body and soul is given for the purchase of munitions of war. A large number of Mormons are leaving this vicinity this spring. They do not, as usual, go in hand or ox-cart trains, but small, straggling squads are seen moving westward toward South Pass. Horses and mules are used instead of oxen on account, as is sup- posed, of their better adaptation to quick motion movements. When met thus on their journey and asked their destination, the com- mon reply is, "Washington Territory, Oregon or California." By this means they hope to pass Colonel Johnston and his army. or, perhaps, slip around him by some of the secret mountain passes.

"In the event of failure in both these moves, then the Mormon city (Genoa), some twenty miles west of the Loup Fork, will afford a very suitable retreat whence to sally forth and lay waste the towns and settle- ments west of this point-Columbus, Monroe, Buchanan, Fontenelle, Fremont, North Bend, Elkhorn, and many others, now without the least show of protection. Last fall this Mormon city contained not less than five hundred souls; at this time it no doubt numbers one thousand. It is well-known that the Mormons are in possession of the mails whilst they are being transported across the plains; instance the recent depredations under the walls of Fort Kearney, where, in an old smith shop by the wayside, the United States mail was held twelve days and all the government dispatches for the army stolen and sent slyly to Brigham Young.

" When our army in Utah shall enter the valley of Salt Lake the Mormons en masse will rise in hostile array, for they are sworn to resist. At that moment let the good people west of us look well to their safety. We hesitate not to say that those one thou- sand Mormons near Loup Fork, armed and

equipped as they are, can and will sweep from existence every Gentile village and soul west of the Elkhorn. As to Omaha City, the nursling of a government hostile to Mormon rule, the rival of Mormon towns and the victim of sworn Mormon vengeance, how shall she share in this strife? In the space of one night the one hundred Saints now here could lay in ashes every house in our city, whilst the armed bands in our vicinity should pillage and revel in our blood. The Deseret News proclaims to the wide world from the great leader of the hosts of the annointed thus: ‘Winter Quarters is Mine, saith the Lord. Nebraska will I lay waste: With fear and with sword shall my people blot out from the face of the earth all those who kill the Prophets and stone the Lord's annointed.'

" Aside from the teachers in the Mormon Church the laymen are fully pursuaded in their minds that they are the chosen of the Lord. One thousand Mormons, imbued with this spirit, will, on the field of battle, defeat ten thousand of the regular soldiery and lay waste a territory whilst the government is yet beginning to oppose.

"For verity of the statements herein contained as to the movements of this sect, let those who wish inquire of the merchants who sell ammunition here, at Florence and at Crescent City. Let them see if Council Bluffs merchants are not drained of these articles by the train which lately left that place. Then let the store houses of the Saints near Florence be searched, place scouts on the plains and there examine wagons and packs. That certainly should satisfy one and all, even the most sceptical."

This writer's fears proved to be unfounded, however, and from the date of the occu- pancy of Utah by the military forces of the government, in the winter of 1858 and 1859, there has been no occasion for any anxiety with regard to the attitude of the Mormons towards the national authorities.

In June, 1859, there was an outbreak of

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AN OUTBREAK OF THE PAWNEE INDIANS.

the Pawnee Indians, then living near Fre- mont, but on the south side of the Platte River. They proceeded up the Elkhorn River, in a northwesterly direction, on their annual buffalo hunt, and as they journeyed committed many depredations upon the opposite side of the river, especially at West Point, from which place all the settlers fled in terror, leaving their homes to be ran- sacked by the Indians. A party of whites from Fontenelle went up to West Point, well armed and equipped, but found no Indians. Proceeding six miles farther up the river to the settlement of De Witt, sev- eral Indians were enticed into a log cabin in which the whites had concealed themselves, with a view of capturing them. The attempt proved unsuccessful, however, though sev- eral of the Indians were shot in the melee.

A general uprising of the Indians being feared Governor Black organized a force of about two hundred men, which assembled on Maple Creek, near Fontenelle, early in July, to pursue and punish the Indians. In this there was much of " the pomp and glorious circumstance of war." The Governor him- self was present, attended by a staff of half a dozen officers. General John M. Thayer, who was in active command of the expedi- tion, was similarly supplied with aides, and a squad of United States dragoons, under command of Lieutenant Beverly II. Robert- son (who afterwards became a cavalry general in the Confederate army), contrib- uted materially in giving a military appear- ance to the command. Colonel Samuel R. Curtis (afterwards a major general in the Union army in the war of the rebellion) also accompanied the expedition. Omaha contributed John McConihie, Charles D. Woolworth, Robert H. Howard, Witt Black, A. S. Paddock, Samuel A. Lowe and R. E. Bowie as staff officers, the following named being appointed battalion officers: William A. West, colonel; Beverly H. Robertson, lieutenant-colonel ; Peter Reed, major ; Samuel R. Curtis, inspector; Experience

Estabrook, adjutant; W. T. Clarke, quarter- master; A. U. Wyman, commissary; Henry Page, wagonmaster; J. P. Peck and William McClelland, surgeons. The various com- panies composing the command were officered as follows :-

Omaha Gun Squad (with a brass six- pounder) : James H. Ford, captain; E. G. McNeeley, first lieutenant; William Searight, sergeant.

First Dragoons: George F. Kennedy, captain; J. C. Reeves, first lieutenant; C. A. IIenry, second lieutenant; John S. Bowen, sergeant.

Second Dragoons: R. W. Hazen, captain; William West, first lieutenant; 11. C. Camp- bell, second lieutenant; Abram McNeil, sergeant.

Fontenelle Mounted Rifles (so called because the members of the company rode in wagons and were armed with shot guns and old army muskets): William Kline, captain; James A. Bell, first lieutenant; William S. Flack, second lieutenant; John H. Francis, sergeant.

About the 6th of July the expedition thus organized started in its pursuit of the Indians and overtook them some distance west of the forks of the Elkhorn River, encamped on the west side of a stream (since named Battle Creek) where it emptied into the Elkhorn. A lively chase for a distance of a couple of miles followed and the In- dians were induced to call a halt and a parley ensued. The result was that half a dozen young Pawnees were surrendered by the tribe as the survivors of the party which had been perpetrating the outrages, and, with the agreement that the expenses of the expedi- tion were to be paid out of certain moneys then due the tribe from the government, peace was declared. The following day all but one of the prisoners escaped, and after being confined in the jail at Omaha a few months that one was restored to liberty. Those who took part in this expedition were disappointed in their expectation of receiv-

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

ing pay from the government for their services, as were also the men who furnished horses, wagons and other supplies for the occasion.

In commemoration of this expedition, the following verses were composed by General Experience Estabrook, of this city:

Ye warriors from battle fields gory, Come listen a moment to me, While I sing of the deeds of glory In the war with the bloody Pawnee.

Beneath our commander's broad pennant, We marshalled our forces in line, And took Uncle Samuel's lieutenant, And made him a Colonel so fine.

The picked men, the wise, the respected, The flower of the country were there; From these with great care was selected, The staff of the brave General Thayer.

Their merits were tested severely;

They were men from whom foes never ran; But, to give you my meaning more clearly, I will say, "the subscriber was one."

We had great men, but some didn't know it- Men of mark with the sword and the pen -- The statesman, the scholar, the poet, And candidates-say about ten.

Were we pained with bruise, or a felon, The belly-ache, or a stiff neck We had only to call on MeClellan, Or our own faithful surgeon, Doc. Peck.

There are many of water suspicious, Especially if it be cool, Let such quaff a potion delicious, Like us, from the green mantled pool.

'Midst the slime where the buffalo wallows, Let him stoop, the potion to draw,

And reflect, while the foul draught he swallows, On the julip, the ice and the straw.

At meals, 'mid confusion and clatter, When halting at night, or at noon, Some five of us ate from one platter, And ten of us licked at one spoon.

Our eyelids were strangers to slumber, We heeded not hunger or pain,

While we followed them, days without number, Over sand hill, and valley, and plain.

No false one his treason was showing, No timid one wished to turn back,

While along the dark trail we were going, We watched for the moccasin track.

At length, far away in the valley,

The light of their camp-fires appeared, And the bugle notes, bidding us rally, With joyful emotions were heard.

Like Pat, on a peck of perates, Like Diedrick, on cabbage or kraut, So we, on those dangerous traitors Descended and put them to rout.

Like rats, from a ship's conflagration, Like fleas, from a well littered stye, So scattered the whole Pawnee nation At the sound of our rallying cry.

And now, when the wars are all over, And peace and security reign, Let us bring forth the big bellied bottle And drink to the Pawnee campaign.

In the early part of 1861 there were wild rumors of invasions of Omaha contemplated by the secessionists of Missouri, when Colonel Miles, of the Second United States Infantry, came in from Fort Kearney, in April, with Companies E and F of that reg- iment on their way South; the command was encamped here several days, awaiting trans- portation down the river. The Omaha Telegraph. of April 25th, says: "As the Omaha is almost hourly expected the two companies now here will probably join the four expected from Fort Randall, and it is hardly to be supposed that six full compa- nies, well drilled and equipped, commanded by a brave and gallant officer, will allow themselves to be trifled with, or their orders go unfulfilled, in their own land by a parcel of rebellious rowdies of no patriotism and less judgment. We had the pleasure of meeting Colonel Miles, now in command of the two companies here, and who will be by seniority of rank in command of the united six; and from his personal qualities and past history we would caution. the people of St. Joseph against meddling with him or his men. Considerable excitement prevails in the city to learn what has been really the fate of the Omaha, and what is to happen at St. Joseph to the troops on their way down the river. It is reported that the St. Joseph people will endeavor by mob violence to prevent the

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RUMOR OF INVASION BY MISSOURI SECESSIONISTS.

soldiers from obeying their orders and from garrisoning Fort Leavenworth, upon which point, we take it, the Missourians have an eye for plunder. We believe that the people of St. Joseph will not prove such desperate fools as to attempt so hazardous an under- taking, for we feel sure that mob violence, opposed to the drill of the regulars, must in any case result greatly to the damage of the former, and would be but amusement for the latter."

On the 28th Colonel Miles and his com- mand embarked on the steamer West Wind, and, in order to avoid anticipated trouble at St. Joseph, left the boat at Forest City, Kansas, and marched across the point, re-em- barking below St. Joseph, at Palermo. May 3d the steamer Omaha went down the river with the heavy baggage of Companies C, E and I, of the Fourth Artillery (from Fort Randall), but the soldiers were marched over- land across Iowa, to Eddyville, the terminus at that time of the Des Moines Railroad. The soldiers were banquetted in fine style by the citizens of Council Bluffs, May 4th, upon starting out on their march.

In this connection it may be mentioned that on the 10th of May ten twelve-pound howitzers were spiked at Fort Kearney by Captain C. H. Taylor, Second Dragoons, then commanding that post, who claimed that he feared they would be taken by a mob and turned against his command. He had previously received orders to send the guns to Fort Leavenworth, but chose to disregard those orders, alleging lack of adequate escort, and deliberately destroyed them instead. His explanation as to where the mob was to come from in that early day, when the nearest settlements (and mere hamlets at that) were two hundred miles distant, would be of interest.

May 18th, Governor Alvin Saunders issued the following order:

" WHEREAS, The President of the United States has issued his proclamation, calling into the service of the United States an

additional volunteer force of infantry and cavalry to serve for a period of three years unless sooner discharged, and the Secretary of War having assigned one regiment to the Territory of Nebraska, now therefore I, Alvin Saunders, Governor of the Territory of Nebraska, do issue this proclamation and hereby call upon the militia of the Territory immediately to form in the different coun- ties volunteer companies, with a view of entering the service of the United States under the aforesaid call. Companies, when formed, will proceed to elect a captain and two lieutenants. The number of men required to each company will be made known as soon as the instructions are received from the war department, but it is supposed now that it will not be less than seventy-eight men. As soon as a company is formed and has elected its officers the captain will report the same to the adjutant general's office.

" Efforts are being made to trample the stars and stripes, the emblem of our liberties, in the dust. Traitors are in the land, busily engaged in trying to overthrow the govern- ment of the United States, and information has been received that these same traitors are endeavoring to incite an invasion of our frontier by a savage foe. In view of these facts I invoke the aid of every lover of his country and his home to come promptly forward to sustain and proteet the same."

Nebraska furnished, to aid in putting down the rebellion, one regiment of infantry, the First Nebraska, which was mustered in at Omaha during June and July, 1861, as the various companies were filled by Lieu- tenant Lewis Merrill, Second United States Cavalry; was transferred into the mounted infantry service by special orders from the headquarters at St. Louis, Department of Missouri, October 11, 1863, and assigned to duty on the plains; re-enlisted for another term of three years July 22, 1864, and was mustered out at Omaha July 1, 1866, having remained in the service more than a year

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History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 24

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020