History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 31

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

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8. When no record can be produced show- ing the naturalization of a foreigner, natur- alization may be inferred from the fact that

for a long time he voted, held office, and exercised all the rights and privileges of a citizen.

9. On an information to oust from office a foreign born person, on the ground that he is not a citizen, an answer, upon information and belief, that the respondent's father com- pleted his naturalization before respondent reached his majority, and prior to that time exercised all the privileges of citizen- ship, is admitted by a demurrer, and is sufficient to show that respondent himself is a citizen.

48 N. W. Rep. 739, reversed.

John L. Webster, John HI. Blair, Omaha, G. M. Lambertson, O. P. Mason, Lincoln, and Judge Dillon, of New York, appeared for Governor Thayer. John C. Cowin, John D. Howe, Ilenry D. Estabrook, Omaha, rep- resented Governor Boyd, assisted by ex-At- torney General Garland, of Washington, and Charles Ogden, of Omaha.

One curious circumstance in connection with this case was the fact that the Wash- ington correspondents, by some means, ob- tained, and published to the world, a synop- sis of the Supreme Court's decision several weeks before it was handed down by the Court.

Notwithstanding there had been much speculation as to the course Governor Thayer would pursue, he very gracefully surrendered the office to Governor Boyd, who took pos- session on the afternoon of February 8, 1892.

The event was duly celebrated at Lincoln, on Monday, February 15th, large delegations visiting the capital city from all parts of the State.

GLIMPSES OF OMAHA.

CHAPTER XXI.

NAVIGATION - THE FIRST STEAMER ON THE MISSOURI -SCENES OF LATER YEARS.

Before the era of railroads, Omaha de- pended upon the Missouri River as a " base of supplies," and for several years the "levee"-now within the boundaries of Iowa-presented a lively scene upon the arrival or departure of the steamers then plying the river. The steamboat first ven- turing to ascend the Missouri was the Inde- pendence, Captain Nelson, of Louisville, which left St. Louis May 15, 1819, with pas- sengers and a miscellaneous cargo for the thriving town of Franklin, Howard County. Missouri, the site, of which town was long since swept away by the changing stream. Among the passengers on this pioneer steamer was Major J. D. Wilcox, father of Captain Wm. P. Wilcox, of this city. The occasion was a memorable one in the history of that section, and a dinner, in honor of that event, was tendered Captain Nelson and the pas- sengers, by the delighted citizens of Frank- lin, when the following toasts were presented and properly responded to: (1) " The Mis- souri River; its last wave will roll the abundant tribute of our region to the Mexi- can Gulf in reference to the auspices of this day." (2) "The memory of Robert Ful- ton, one of the most distinguished artists of the age; the Missouri River now bears upon her bosom the first effect of his genius for steam navigation." (3) "The memory of Franklin, the philosopher and statesman; in anticipation of his country's greatness, he never imagined that a boat at this time would be propelled by steam so far west- ward to a town bearing his name on the Missouri." (4) "Captain Nelson, the pro- prietor of the steamboat Independence; the imaginary dangers of the Missouri vanished

before his enterprising genius." (5) " Louis- ville, Franklin and Chariton; they become neighbors by steam navigation." (6) "The republican government of the United States; by facilitating the intercourse between dif- ferent points, its benign influences may be diffused over the continent of North Amer- ica." (7) "The policy resulting in the ex- pedition to the Yellowstone." (8) "South America; may an early day witness the navigation of the Amazon and La Plata by steam power, under the auspices of an inde- pendent government." (9) "International Improvements; the New York Canal, an imperishable monument of the patriotism and genius of its proprietor." (10) " The Missouri Territory; desirous to be num- bered with the States on constitutional prin- ciples, but determined to never submit to congressional usurpation."

The expedition to the Yellowstone re- ferred to in the foregoing, for which we are indebted to an old copy of the Missouri In- telligencer, was a government undertaking. Major S. H. Long, of the United States Top- ographical Engineers, was in command of the party, which left Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, May 3, 1819, on the steamer Western Engineer. Proceeding down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Mis- souri, the expedition reached the town of Franklin on the 13th of July, to a descrip- tion of which place considerable space is given in an interesting account of the trip, published by Edwin James, geologist and botanist of the expedition. The members of this party were also hospitably entertained by the citizens of Franklin, and it is inter- esting to note the following comments upon

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the prospects of the settlement, by Mr. served that, when he commanded the United James: "It is doubtful whether the present site of Franklin will not, at some future day, be occupied by the river, which appears to be at this time encroaching upon its bank. Opposite Franklin is Booneville, containing, at the time of our visit, eight houses, but having in some respects a more advanta- geous situation, and probably destined to ri- val, if not surpass, its neighbor."

In this connection it may not be improper to give space to a story of Indian warfare, as related by Mr. James: " Mr. Munroe, a resident of Franklin, stated that, being on a hunting expedition in 1816, on a branch of the Le Neine River, he found the relics of the encampment of a large body of men, whether of white troops, or Indian warriors, he could not determine. Not far from this encampment he observed a recent mound of earth, about eight feet in height, which he was induced to believe must be a cache, or place of deposit for the spoils which the party occupying the encampment had taken from the enemy, and which they could not remove with them on their departure. He opened the mound, and was surprised to find in it the body of a white officer, apparently a man of rank, and which had been interred with extraordinary care. The body was in a sitting posture, upon an Indian mat, the back resting against some logs placed around it in the manner of a log house, enclosing a space about three by five feet, and about four feet high, covered at the top with a mat similar to that beneath. The clothing was still in sufficient preservation to enable him to distinguish a red coat, trimmed with gold lace, golden epaulettes, a spotted buff waist- coat, finished also with gold lace, and pant- aloons of white nankeen. On the head was a round, beaver hat, and a bamboo walking- stick, with the initials " J. M. C." engraved upon a golden head, reclined against the arm. On raising the hat it was found that the deceased had been hastily scalped. In elation to this story, General Smith ob-

States troops in this department, he was informed of an action that had taken place near the Le Neine, in the autumn of 1815, between some Spanish dragoons, aided by a few Pawnee Indians, and a war party of Sacs and Foxes. In the course of this action a Spanish officer had pursued an Indian boy, who was endeavoring to escape with a musket on his shoulder, but who, finding himself near- ly overtaken, discharged the musket behind him at random, and had killed the officer on the spot. The skirmish continuing, the body was captured and recaptured several times, and at last remained with the Spanish party."

On the 19th of July the expedition re- sumed its course up the river, the Western Engineer thus being the first steamboat to ascend the Missouri River above the town of Franklin. September 15th, the mouth of the Platte River is reached, and two days later " the trading establishment of the Missouri Fur Company, known as Fort Lisa, and occupied by Mr. Mannel Lisa, one of the most active persons engaged in the Mis- souri fur trade." The position selected for the establishment of winter quarters for the exploring party was " on the west bank of the Missouri, about half a mile above Fort Lisa, five miles below Council Bluffs, and three miles above the mouth of Boyer's River," which location is but a short distance above the site of Florence, and in the imme- diate vicinity of where the reservoirs are located from which Omaha is now supplied with water. This point was reached Sep- tember 19, 1819. On the 3rd of October the party were visited by a band of Otoe and Iowa Indians, for the purpose of holding a council. A dance was given by the Indians, with a recital of their martial deeds, the lat- ter exercise being preceded by the respective narrators' striking a post with a stick, indi- cating that what he was about to say would be " the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Of this part of the enter-

VIEW OF THE LEVEE BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNION PACIFIC BRIDGE.

LIAN'S'H

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NARRATIONS OF INDIAN MARTIAL EXPLOITS.

tainment, Mr. James says: "Ietan went on to narrate his martial exploits. He had stolen horses seven or eight times from the Konzas; he had first struck the bodies of three of that nation slain in battle. He had stolen horses from the Ietan nation, and had struck one of their dead. He had stolen horses from the Pawnees and struck the body of one Pawnee Loup. 1Ie had stolen horses several times from the Omaw- haws and once from the Puncas. He had struck the bodies of two Sioux. On a war party, in company with the Pawnees, he had attacked the Spaniards and penetrated into one of their camps; the Spaniards, excepting a man and boy, fled; himself being at a dis- tance before his party, he was shot at and missed by the man, whom he immediately shot down and struck. Little Soldier, a war- worn veteran, took his turn to strike the post. Ile had struck dead bodies of individ- uals of all the nations around, Osages, Kon- zas, Pawnee Loups, Pawnee Republicans, Grand Pawnees, Puncas, Omawhaws, Sioux, Padoncas, La Plais or Bald Heads, Ietans, Sauxs, Foxes and Ioways; he had struck eight of one nation, seven of another, etc. He was proceeding with his account when Ietan ran up to him, put his hand upon his mouth and respectfully led him to his seat. This act was no trifling compliment paid to the well-known brave. It indicated that he had still so many glorious acts to speak of that he would occupy so much time as to prevent others from speaking, and put to shame the other warriors by a contrast of his actions with theirs."

Mr. James gives many interesting details of their experiences at this point during the winter. "Mr. Fontenelle," the father of Logan Fontenelle, visits the camp and states that the Omawhaws (Omahas) " had been much necessitated for food, subsisting for some time upon the fruit of the red haws, which the squaws sought for under the proper trees, beneath the snow." The Sioux, he

reports, are suffering from the mumps, after having had a scourge of small-pox. Big Elk, the famous Omaha chief, also pays his respects to the explorers. "He observed that we must think them strange people to be thus constantly wandering about during the cold of winter, instead of remaining comfortably housed in their villages. ' But,' said he, ' our poverty and necessities compel us to do so in pursuit of game, yet we some- times venture forth for our pleasure, as in the present instance, to visit the white peo- ple, whom we are always delighted to see.' Then he warned the party against Indians of other tribes, who made false protestations of love; the Omawhaws alone, of all the Indian nations in the land, had never stained their hands with the blood of the white man. He added a strong expression that, such was his attachment to us, he believed he should, at a future day, be a white man himself."

The river is measured just below and above the camp, and found to be, at those points, 100 and 277} yards, respectively. A measurement of the current shows a veloc- ity of 1,324} feet per hour on the surface, and of 2,680 feet per hour at a mean depth of ten feet. In June, 1820, the camp called Engineer Cantonment was broken up, the exploring party proceeding westward up the Platte River, by land, and the steamboat was sent down to the Mississippi River.

Captain La Barge, who was at Omaha with his steamboat, the John M. Chambers, in 1877, assisting in the rebuilding of the railroad bridge, made his first trip up the Missouri in 1827, when a lad thirteen years of age, going up to the mouth of the Yel- lowstone in a steamer completed at Pitts- burg that year for the American Fur Com- pany's service. La Barge spent the winter of 1827 with Cabanne, a trader, located in the vicinity of the former site of Engineer Cantonment. In 1834 a new boat, the Assinniboyne, was put in service on the Missouri by the Fur Company, which boat

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was burned to the water's edge in 1835, the company losing about $75,000 worth of furs.

For many years there was a lively traffic carried on hy steamers on the Missouri River as far north as Fort Benton. Among the vessels engaged in the business after the founding of this city were: The West Wind, Lizzie Bayless, E. A. Ogden, D. A. January, T. C. McGill, Omaha, Watossa, E. M. Ry- land, Platte Valley, Hattie Florence, May Little, Martin Graham, Denver, Sam. Getty, Chippewa, Spread Eagle, St. Mary's, Ad- miral, Fanchon, Fannie Tatum, Katie P. Kountze, Kate Kinney, J. H. Lacey, Only Chance, Yellowstone, Deer Lodge, St. Johns, Prairie State, Effie Deans, Montana, Spray, A. B. Chambers, Fontenelle, Kate Howard, Camilie, Monongahala, Sultan, Polar Star, J. M. Converse, Morning Star, J. H. Lucas, New Lucy, David Tatum, Emma, Star of the West, Wm. Campbell, F. X. Aubrey, Australia, Cataract, Edinburg, Emigrant. Hannibal, T. E. Tutt, Carrier, D. E. Taylor and Amazon.

In 1857 there were fifty boats regularly employed on the Missouri, running as far north as this city. For many years the firm of Porter & Deuel-John R. Porter and Harry Deuel, the latter now city passenger agent for the Union Pacific-carried on a business as steamboat agents which amounted to a million dollars annually. John A. Horbach also did a heavy business as steam- boat agent here for many years.

In 1849 Captain W. P. Wilcox, for many years a resident of Omaha, and known all over the West as a member of the firm of Stephens & Wilcox, was clerk of the steamer

El Paso, which was engaged for two weeks in ferrying California emigrants across the Missouri at this point.

Captain W. W. Copeland, of this city, spent the period between 1860 and 1867 on the river, running between Vicksburg and Fort Benton, a considerable portion of which time was given to the service of the St. Joseph and Omaha line. On the Fourth of July, 1861, the West Wind, of which he was clerk, was tied up at St. Joseph. The Sec- ond Iowa Infantry, encamped in that city, discovered a peculiar looking flag floating from the flag-staff of the steamer, and Cap- tain Clautman was sent with his company, K, to secure its prompt removal, under the impression that it was a " rebel rag." Cap- tain Copeland, happening to be the only one of the boat's officers on board at the time, was directed by Captain Clautman to at once " haul down his colors," which command was received with considerable surprise. Explanations followed, and the patriotic contingent from the Second Iowa were soon convinced that the colors in question were not the emblem of treason, but a flag used by the steamer before the passage of South Carolina's ordinance of secession. This was the last anniversary of the Na- tion's independence Captain Clantman was permitted to witness. On the 16th day of February, following, confronted by genuine rebel flags, with volleys of rebel musketry and cannonading shaking the ground be- neath his feet, the air thick with sulphurous smoke, his life was willingly yielded up by him in order that victory might be achieved by his comrades on the bloody field of Don- elson.

CHAPTER XXII.

BENEVOLENT AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS - NEBRASKA INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB-ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS - DOUGLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL AND POOR FARM.

In the way of institutions to aid the sick and unfortunate, Omaha is far behind many cities of less population and importance. The needs in this direction are fully appre- ciated by the better class of citizens, and, doubtless, the next five years will witness great advances in this line.

Northwest of the business portion of the city, now within the municipal borders, is located the State Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, opened for the admission of pupils in April, 1869. The act of the Legislature authorizing its establishment was approved February 7, 1867.

The first efforts for the establishment of this institution were those of Rev. H. W. Kuhns, then a member of the Omaha School Board, to whom the parents of Kate Calla- .han, a little deaf mute of this city, made application to have her educated at the ex- pense of the State. Mr. Kuhns saw the necessity for a State institution for the pur- pose of educating the deaf, and agitated the question of having one provided. The sub- ject was taken up by other citizens and the newspapers, and the act of the Legislature authorizing its establishment was approved February 7, 1867, and in April, 1869, the institution was opened for the admission of pupils. The law required the location of the asylum to be within three miles of Omaha. The first board of officers were: John S. Bowen, Blair, president; Joseph H. Millard, Omaha, treasurer; Rev. Henry W. Kuhns, Omaha, secretary; Dr. G. C. Monell and Rev. Henry W. Kuhns, Omaha, executive

committee; John S. Bowen, Blair, E. II. Rogers, Fremont, Dr. Aurelius Bowen, Ne- braska City, Dr. G. C. Monell, Omaha, Dr. Abel L. Child, Plattsmouth, and Dr. John McPherson, Brownville, directors. Prof. W. M. French, a deaf mute, was the first super- intendent, and his sister, Mrs. Jennie Wilson, was the first matron. In their first re- port, dated December 1, 1869, the directors speak as follows with respect to the opening of the institution: "No sooner was the principal, W. M. French, appointed, than, with the concurrence of the Board, he issued a circular, and engaged in correspondence, inviting all the deaf mutes of the State, of suitable age, to the institution. A building sufficient for the immediate requirements of the pupils was obtained and supplied with the necessary furniture, and the little family of the first pupils gathered to their tempo- rary home. They came tardily. Parents could not spare them; some could not afford the expense of such clothing as they deemed needful; the institution was new and untried; but gradually the number of pupils has in- creased, and at the date of this report thir- teen pupils are regularly entered."

An additional hindrance was that these children were generally the objects of solici- tude to their parents, because of their afflic- tion, and it was, therefore, with great unwill- ingness that they were entrusted to the care of strangers.

The citizens of Omaha donated ten acres of ground, and in 1871 an appropriation of $15,- 000 was made for the erection of more suitable

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

buildings, and a brick structure, 44x60 feet, three stories high, was completed and ready for occupancy January 1, 1872. In the mean- time Professor R. H. Kinney and wife had succeeded Professor French and Mrs. Wilson, who had resigned, and Mrs. Mason, and two assistant teachers, Miss Maggie Bickford and Miss Gertrude Jenkins, were employed.

The act of 1867 made no appropriation of funds to begin work, and much difficulty was experienced in getting the enterprise established. A small building located in the woods south of St. Mary's Avenue was first rented, and this was occupied until the build- ing north of the city was completed. There was great rejoicing on the part of the friends of the institution when the appropriation of $15,000 was secured, the money being car- ried up from Lincoln by Secretary Kuhns.

In 1875 another appropriation of $15,000 was made by the Legislature, and a second building was erected. In the meantime, an additional ten acres of land had been pur- chased, trees planted, a substantial barn erected, the grounds fenced and the property put in excellent condition. In the latter part of 1876 the buildings and land were valued at $40,000. September 1, 1878, Professor J. A. Gillespie, the present incum- bent, was appointed principal of the institu- tion, in the management of which he is assisted by Mrs. Gillespie. At this date there were fifty-two pupils, and the following named officers: J. A. Gillespie, principal; J. A. MeClure, F. L. Reid and Mrs. M. T. Benson, teachers; Mrs. S. A. Thompson, ma- tron; Dr. J. C. Denise, physician; and S. F. Buckley, foreman of the printing office. Pro- fessor MeClure was connected with the insti- tute for fifteen years, resigning some three years since on account of failing sight. For many years the pupils have printed a paper, The Mute Journal, first as a monthly and afterwards as a semi-monthly publication, and have made it a very spicy and interest- ing journal. The institute is now a credit to the State, and has become, under the

faithful and efficient management of Profes- sor Gillespie, the agency of great good to the unfortunate class it was designed to aid. The status which the Nebraska home for the deaf and dumb has attained, in the esti- mation of those who make the care and in- struction of these unfortunates a specialty, is shown in an interview with Professor Alexander Graham Bell, on the occasion of a recent visit to Omaha by that gentleman, as printed in the Bee. Professor Bell said: " The Nebraska institute is celebrated the world over for its progress in the matter of teaching the deaf to hear. The method in use here was originated by Professor Gilles- pie, and is revolutionizing the manner of instructing these unfortunates. For a num- ber of years teachers in these institutions have been accustomed to summon their pu- pils by ringing a dinner bell, but it never seemed to occur to any one that a child who could hear a bell might be taught to hear speech. It remained for Professor Gillespie to do this, and he has demonstrated that fully sixteen per cent. of our deaf mutes may be taught to hear and speak; and, when you consider that the census of 1880 reports about thirty-four thousand deaf mutes in this coun- try, you see how important this matter is. A child which is born deaf never learns to. speak because it does not hear any one else speak, but the organs of speech are not de- fective, and the so-called dumb may be taught to speak. The method pursued by Professor Gillespie is to form those pupils who can hear any loud noise, such as a din- ner bell, into classes, and teach them to articulate, thus transforming them from deaf mutes into ordinary deaf people. This method has been thoroughly tested, and is now in practical use in three institutions beside the one here. These are the State institutes of Arkansas and New York, and the Voice and Hearing school, in Englewood, near Chicago. The latter is a private insti- tution, conducted by a former instructor in the Nebraska institute. While I was in

JaGillespie

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THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Europe I was qnestioned very closely about the Nebraska institute and the work it was doing, but was unable to give a very extended idea of the matter, as I had never visited it; so I resolved to avail myself of the first opportunity and investigate the method fully. Professor Gillespie has gained a rep- utation in this thing, which is world-wide, and has done more to change the general idea regarding this subject than any one ever dreamed of."

He has also introduced into this school a method of presenting language to the deaf, which, though in use but a short time, gives evidence of being a reformation in this line of work. It is simply to present language to these pupils in the form of complete thoughts, instead of in simple ideas. They, having no language of their own, are de- pendent upon their teachers. By the method here introduced the teacher will supply the smoothest idiomatic expression for the thought presented, and the pupil, after giving this expression, written on the blackboard, a moment's attention, is re- quired to reproduce it, and it thus becomes his own. Many of the difficulties met with by the deaf to master the English language are thus overcome.

The institute now has 130 pupils. The following named persons constitute the board, officers and teachers: J. A. Gillespie, A. M., principal and steward; T. F. Moseley, A. M., R. E. Stewart, A. B., C. C. Wentz, A. M., Mrs. T. F. Moseley, Miss Ella M. Rudd, teachers; W. E. Taylor, A. M., Mrs. W. E. Taylor, Mrs. C. E. Comp, Mrs. C. C. Wentz, oral and aural teachers; Miss May Murray, art teacher; Mrs. J. A. Gillespie, matron; J. C. Denise, physician; Miss IIelen Mc- Cheane, clerk; Mrs. Anna Richards, nurse and supervisor of large boys; Miss Mamie Sutter, seamstress; Miss Lelia Foote, super- visor of girls; C. E. Comp, foreman of printing office; D. J. Richards, foreman of carpenter shop.

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History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 31

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