USA > Nebraska > Nebraska history and record of pioneer days, Vol I > Part 4
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The following story, which I copied recently from the Daily Mis- souri Republican (St. Louis) of May 30, 1846, is very interesting in this relation.
"OLD FORT KEARNY."
Col. Kearny, with one hundred and fifty dragoons, were taken on board the steamer Amaranth, at Fort Leavenworth, on her last trip up, and proceeded to Fort Kearny, on Table Creek, a new fort es- tablished about fifteen miles below Council Bluffs. Above Weston, on her way up, the boat struck a snag, which carried away the guard under the cook house, and the whole of its contents were lost in the river; which accident caused a great deal of incor venience, as the cooking for the whole company on board had to be done with a small stove on the after deck.
Col. Kearny returned on the Amaranth to Fort Leavenworth, where he first heard of the orders of the President for the expedition to New Mexico. The dragoons which Col. Kearny took up with him were left at the site of the new fort.
General Brooke, commander of this division, went up to the site of the new fort, on the Amaranth, and returned to the city yesterday evening. We are unable to learn at what time Col. Kearny will move on the expedition to which he has been ordered by the Government.
ALBERT WATKINS
GIFTS RECEIVED BY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FROM JAN. 1, 1918 TO APRIL 1, 1918.
A Shingle Rive. Used by William Young, of Cass county, Ne- braska, to split shingles used on his cabin, built in 1855, on section 12, township 11, range 13. Presented by David A. Young of Murray, Ne- braska, a son of William Young. Indian hoe found in 1855, grown into the forks of a tree in Cass county. Presented by David A. Young, of Murray, Nebraska.
A Winnebago beaded pincushion presented by Mrs. Mary Baird White. She received it from a cousin who had received it from a Winnebago Indian about seventy-five years ago.
Two photographs of Company L, at Albion, Nebraska. Presented by Mrs. M. M. Claflin of University Place.
Photographs of Red Cross girls at Cook, Nebraska, presented by Harriet Wilson.
Photograph of Seward Red Cross solicitors. Presented by Dr. C. F. Roth, captain M. R. C. U. S. A.
Swiss watch works, found near Denver. Loaned by William Kline.
From Mrs. Fred R. Kingsley, of Minden, an interesting collec- tion of stationery bearing pictured advertisements of the U. S. Sanl- tary Commission, which was the Red Cross organization of Civil War time; also old-time state bank notes of the Towanda and Lancaster banks in Pennsylvania and the Bank of Tennessee in Nashville, dat- ing from 1841. 1
From Walter C. Kern, of Pawnee City, a collection of historical card posters, illustrating the first sixty years' history of Pawnee county-from 1854 to 1914. These liistorical cards are approximately 6 by 12 inches in size and are different in their plan from any other historical literature we have seen.
LETTERS OF APPRECIATION.
Many letters of appreciation and information are received at the State Historical Society office. The stimulus which these give is so strong and genuine that the editor passes some of it along to the readers of Nebraska History.
I received volume XVIII and have read it with great interest, and
Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days
I congratulate the Society on the efficiency of its work, and I am sure it will continue in its good endeavors.
John C. Cowin, Omaha.
I have received Volume XVIII and congratulate you on its infor- mation and attractiveness.
John D. Haskell, Wakefield.
I think your plan to make a volume of history regarding farmers organizations in Nebraska a good one. I came to Nebraska with my parents when a little boy almost forty-seven years ago, arriving in Pawnee county on May 12, 1871. I was raised on a farm and know something of the farmer's life and know that the history you are making will be very interesting to the farmers.
David W. Neill, Pawnee City.
I enjoy the books and pamphlets from the Society immensely. I have a friend here who would like to become a member.
J. R. Swain, Greeley.
I am with you in your work.
Josiah Miner, Friend.
Don't you think that in your history of farmers organizations that of the farm mortgage business should be taken up? The greatest economic question in all history is farming-food production. I think in the history you propose it should be asked and answered, "Why the tremendous farm mortgage indebtedness which is still increasing by leaps and bounds? What is the cause; what is the cure?"
William Stull, Omaha.
I find much that is interesting in Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days.
Francis E. White, Omaha.
I send check for your monthly magazine. I do not know whether it is generally known that the Arikara are an off-shoot of the Pawnee. tribe, as also the Pawnee Picts. Both these tribes visited the Pawnee here in the sixties.
E. A. Gerrard, Monroe.
I am surely glad to see your new journal. . We are beginning on the 1819 celebration at this point.
W. H. Woods, Fort Calhoun.
Find check for subscription to Nebraska History. We will send you our Bohemian farm paper, Hospodar, and our Bohemian maga- zine, Kvety Americke.
Rose Rosicky, Omaha.
I send my greetings to you and the many old and good friends of the Historical Society and have read with interest your magazine. Henry B. Ward, Urbana, Ill.
Enclosed find check. I am interested in the preservation of the state's history.
L. A. Berge, Walton.
As Mr. Bryan is away I take the liberty of sending you his name as a sustaining member with enclosure.
Mary B. Bryan, Miami, Fla.
I hand you herewith draft for my brother, John G. Maher, who is in the army and absent from the city.
Blake Maher, Lincoln.
Find herewith check for $6.00 to pay sustaining membership in the Nebraska State Historical Society for John W. Groff, Fred H. Richards, L. D. Richards. Wishing you success.
L. D. Richards, Fremont.
I am interested in your Nebraska History journal and in the volumes of the Society. With personal greetings and good wishes.
Melvin R. Gilmore, Bismarck, N. D.
I am in receipt of No. 1 of Nebraska History and Record of Pio- neer Days for which I thank you and enclose check for membership dues.
Albert Coolidge, North Platte.
And from that rugged pioneer of the old freighting days comes the following generous western response:
I enclose check on Merchants National Bank, Omaha for $10. Please accept same as a donation to help along in your good work.
John Bratt, North Platte.
With a great pleasure I have received, just now, from you the 1917 report, where at three hundredth page I had the glad opportunity to see my name elected as a corresponding member. I thank you for this great honor and promise to do all I can in behalf of the in- stitution.
Antonio Carlos Simoens da Silva, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Many thanks for kind sending of volume XVIII, Publications of the Nebraska State Historical Society, containing my remarks before the meeting of January, 1910, as also memorial notice and portrait of our friend, Mr. Clarence S. Paine.
In matter and in mechanical make-up the volume is a model, re- flecting credit alike on the Society and on its able editor.
Allow me again to urge the importance of minute local record and collection while you still have with you the pioneers, the Indians and the landmarks.
With thanks, and with remembrance to friends, and best wishes of the season.
James Mooney, U. S. Ethnologist.
E. F. Stephens writes all the way from Nampa, Idaho, to become a sustaining member of the Historical Society. No man has a better right to a place in Nebraska history than Mr. Stephens. The founder of the Crete nursery in 1871, he was for more than forty years one of the foremost orchardists in Nebraska, and thousands of people will be picking fruit from Nebraska trees during this century, un- conscious that they owe a debt to Mr. Stephens for the tree. M. Stephens' share of the Idaho apple crop of 1917 was 54,000 bushels. He is president of the Idaho State Board of Horticultural Inspectors.
William E. Connelley, secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, writes to the editor:
I have enjoyed looking over No. 1, of Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days. It is a valuable publication and we wish to file
every number of it. We have often thought of issuing such a publication, but there have been obstacles in the way which we have not thus far been able to overcome.
The following very interesting letter comes from D. A. Young, of Murray, Cass county:
Enclosed find blanks filled out having just had copy of the Ne- braska History. I am very much interested in Nebraska history. I came to Nebraska March 5, 1855, with my parents. My father was elected surveyor at the first election held in Cass county then later was commissioner. I own the old place yet that my father bought of the government at $1.25 per acre. I have some of his papers. I have a diploma given him for farin products in '58 or '59 at the county fair held at old Rock Bluffs, and I have an old Indian hoe that was found grown into the forks of a tree. It was found in 1855. If any- thing of this kind would be acceptable I would lend them to you to be taken care of, for the younger generation does not take the interest in back things now that older people do.
From N. P. Dodge, Jr., of Omaha, comes the following valued note: Let me express to you my appreciation of the honor of being elected one of the directors of this Society.
I am wondering what could be done to create a greater interest in this Society. Usually I have constructive ideas along these lines in other organizations, but I must confess that I haven't given sufficient thought to the matter to make any suggestions in this letter. When I burrow into the archives of pioneer days in this country, as shown in the letters and diaries of my uncle and father, and realize how little time I have had in my busy life to even edit some of their work, which they hoped would some day be of interest, I am fully aware that the average person has even less interest or time.
Why couldn't we start with the new generation and get into every public school in the state pioneer history that would tell in attractive stories, incidents that would emulate the pioneers and their rugged character instead of the silly stories about "Frederick the Great" and "Kaiser Wilhelm" or the "Cherry Tree Story of George Washington." I do not mean any disregard to Washington, for I do not believe the story is true, and I do not believe in continuing false stories about great men if any true ones can be found. Every county could prob- ably have a little historical book that could be utilized, and that would contain human interest stories, which would impress high prin- ciples upon the child mind. The older I get, the more I believe in es- tablishing character before a child is fifteen years of age, and although I do not believe in delegating that duty to the school, the facts are that the school has the larger part of the burden."
A BIT OF THURSTON COUNTY HISTORY.
From Mrs. John C. Laughlin, of Pender, we have received a most interesting historical story of a woman's organization in that county, founded by her mother, Mrs. T. H. Graves. Slightly abridged, her story is as follows:
By authority of an act of congress, passed August 7, 1882, a part of the Omaha Indian reservation was opened to settlers. Accordingly, on October 30, 1884, T. H. Graves and wife located in a prairie schooner on 160 acres of the rich land in that region. When their home was established, Mrs. Graves, ambitious and farsighted for her- home surroundings, invited all the women within five miles of her, home to meet at her house August 6, 1885, where they organized the Farmers Wives Society. The by-laws of the organization present an interesting view of the ideals of its founders. They are as follows:
1. This society shall be called The Farmers Wives Society and shall meet once in four weeks at any place designated by the president. Its objects are to promote social intercourse, to profit by the experi- ence of others, and to seek instruction in the duties of the farmer's wife.
2. The officers shall consist of president, vice president, secre- tary and treasurer. Any woman may become a member by signing the constitution, all money being raised by subscription.
3. That the society may not be a burden or, a care to any one person every woman shall bring from her store of eatables anything she may find convenient; the one receiving the society provides tea, butter, biscuits and other condiments.
4. That this society shall not say bad while it aims to do good, a fine shall be imposed on any woman who speaks disparagingly of another.
5. At every meeting some subject shall be presented for consid- eration at the next meeting. The subject shall relate to anything that pertains to the happiness or comfort of a farmer's wife.
6. Lest we forget the object of our society, and make it an ad- vertisement of the latest styles in fashionable attire, every woman is required to wear a plain home dress.
7. Every woman may bring her own work unless some case of destitution shall be presented to this society, or some member through sickness or other domestic affliction needs assistance.
8. While this society is designed for the farmer's wife, none are excluded and all are assured a cordial welcome.
9. To give every woman a chance to do what she can to make the society a success there shall be a change of officers every year. 10. Each member is taxed 10 cents a year, which shall be paid at the annual meeting for papers and other magazines.
To say that the organization was a success puts it too mildly. It grew in membership until something like 150 members were en- rolled. Each meeting was more interesting than its predecessor. It was maintained continually nearly until the death of its founder, August 4, 1913.
When the first farmers institute was held in Thurston county, in February, 1896, the Farmers Wives Society joined in the meeting. It had already created in the homes of the neighborhood an atmosphere which welcomed the farmers institute and every other movement to make life better and brighter.
When the membership of the Farmers Wives Society became so large that it could no longer be accommodated at any one home, it divided into a number of smaller clubs, among which are the Pender Woman's Club, the Kensington Club, north of Pender, the Mothers Club, east of Pender, and the Woman's Country Club, south of Pender. All of these have large membership and are progressive societies.
4
Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days
NEBRASKA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' SERVICE FLAG, EXTRA SESSION, 1918.
This flag is a gift to the Nebraska State Historical Society from the Nebraska House of Representatives in special session, March, 1918, The three large upper stars represent three membrs of the House in th United States military service, the fifteen small stars represent sous of members in the United States military service. The list of mem- bers and sons follows:
Members in service: FRANK C. RADKE, JOHN H. HOPKINS and CHASE BURROWS.
The following members of the House of Representatives of the Nebraska legislature have sons in the United States military service:
Andersen, Crist, (Boyd)-Two sons, Jacob P. Andersen, Rudolf Dewey Andersen.
Cronin, Dennis H., (Holt)-One son, Julius D. Cronin.
Dau, Wm. G. J., (Dodge)-One son, Peter J. Dau.
Gormly, William, (Kearney)-Two sons, W. R. Gormly, Glen Gormly.
Harris, J. E., (Buffalo)-One son, Oliver Ben Harris.
Hoffmeister, Fred, (Chase)-Two sons, Geo. W. Hoffmeister, Chas. Hoffmeister.
Jackson, George, speaker, (Nuckolls)-One son, Earl Jackson. Neff, P. B., (Knox)-One son, Everett Neff.
Nesbit, John F., (Burt)-One son, Andrew Nesbit.
Schneider, R. A., (Douglas)-One son, Hammond Lloyd Schneider. Tracewell, G. E., (Cherry)-One son, Roy Tracewell.
Waite, George G., (Lancaster)-One son, M. S. Waite.
THE FREE HOMESTEAD COLONY REUNION.
The forty-seventh annual reunion of the Soldiers Free Homestead colony which made settlement in the vicinity of Gibbon, Buffalo county, Nebraska, on April 7, 1871, was held in the parlors of the Presbyterian church on April 6. Seventeen members of the original colony respond- ei to roll call. Including descendants, eighty were in attendance.
Both dinner and supper were served. There was a brief program of music and recitations, the time being largely given to visiting and renewing old-time friendships.
Ten members of the colony association have died within the year, eight of the number being members of the original colony, namely, Mrs. Lora Davis-Thatcher, Mrs. Eva Putnam-Vanduzer, Mrs. Cora La Barre-White, Mrs. Mary Brady-Traut, Mrs. Carrie Gilmore-Marsh, Harry A. Lee, George Lowell, and Robert H. Hick; also Ruth and Sadie Thatcher, daughters of Mrs. Lora Davis-Thatcher.
The original colony comprised 140 families. The officers for the ensuing year are Mrs. L. W. Bailey, president; Mrs. Stephen Stone- barger, secretary; Miss June Bassett, treasurer .- S. C. B.
THE PLATTE RIVER.
Tlie following is only a partial list of the various names by which the Platte River was known in the past.
Spanish Names.
1541-Rio Quivira, (Skidi-ra), River of the Wolf or Skidi nation. Coronado. 1541-Rio San Pedro Y San Pablo, St. Peter and St. Paul's. Coro- nado.
1686-Rio Grande, The Grand or Great River. Father Posada, OFM
1720-Rio Jesus Y Maria, River of Jesus and Mary. Captain Ve-
lasur.
1720-Rio San Lorenzo, River St. Lawrence (South Platte), Cap- tain Velasur.
1795 Rio Chato, The Flat or Shallow River. J. B. Truteau and James Mackay.
French Names.
1658-Riviere la Fourche, The Forked River, Radisson and Grosel- liers.
1700-Riviere des Panis, Pawnee River, Le Seuer.
1710-Riviere des Missouris, Missouri River. Map of Senex.
1739-La Platte, the Flat or Shallow river. Mallet Brothers.
1739-Riviere des Padocas, the Padouca or Comanche River, (North Platte). Mallet Brothers.
1742-Belle Riviere, the Beautiful River. Laverendrye.
1757-Riviere a la Graisee, Greasy River (South Platte). Bougain-
ville. 1757-Riviere a la Coquille, Shell River (North Platte). Bougain- ville. 1840-Riviere au Cerf, Deer River. Father De Smet. Indian Names.
1739-Padocas, Padouca or Comanche River (North Platte). Mal- let Brothers; Lewis and Clark.
1757-Wabiek, Shell River (North Platte). Bougainville.
1757-Ouonaradeba, Fat or Greasy River (South Platte). Bougain- ville. Kitzkatus, Flat or Shallow River. Skidi Pawnee name.
Nebrathka (Nebraska), Flat or Shallow Water. Omaha name. K'ódalíatoñ, Necklace-shell River (North Platte.) Kiowa name. James Mooney, (17th Report, Bureau of American Ethnology, p. 411.) K'oIalpakcia pa, Sioux River (North Platte) Kiowa name. (17th Bureau of American Ethnology Report, p. 411.) K'o dalp k'i a p'a, Sioux River. (North Platte.) Kiowa name. James Mooney, (17th Report, Bureau of American Ethnology, p. 411.) Panheska Wapka, Shell River (North Fork). Sioux name.
Don p'at, or Goose River (South Fork). Kiowa name.
American Names.
1840-The Nebraska River. Father De Smet.
1840-The Deer River. Father De Smet.
1840-The Bighorn River. Father De Smet.
1840-The Platte River. Father De Smet.
1876-The Shell River (North Platte Fork.) Captain Jas. H. Cook.
(Rev.) Michael A. Shine.
DOUGLAS COUNTY PIONEERS.
The Douglas County Association of Nebraska Pioneers was organ- ized February 1, 1906. It has today over twelve hundred members. It is one of the strong social institutions of the great city of Omaha. It has numbered among its presidents such well-known men in Nebraska history as George B. Lake, B. E. B. Kennedy, Martin Dunham, Joseph Redman, Thomas Swift, Frank X. Dellone, Absalom N. Yost, Martin J. Feenan, August Locknar, Jonathan Edwards, and William R. Kier- stead. The present president is David H. Mercer, ex-congressman. At his invitation the editor hereof addressed the members of the as- sociation March 14 on the subject of Nebraska history and what the State Historical Society is doing for its recognition.
Some of the things the Douglas county pioneers are doing ought to be told for the example and inspiration of others. First of all, their democracy. In a state as rich as Nebraska and in a city as big as Omaha caste groups begin to show. Some have more money than their neighbors and are trying to let the fact be known. Social "sets" appear. Beginnings of class hostility are visible. Now your genuine old settler has no use for anything of the sort. One of them may have a million dollars and the other a humble cottage-they are still Bill and Hannah and Joe and Mary to each other. They wish their chil- dren to have the same outlook. So, of all the democracies I have found in fifty years of Nebraska life, the old settler democracy is among the truest and kindest, and the Douglas county pioneers are among the chief in that respect.
One of the finest touches of this democracy was the report upou sick members and their visitation by the flower committee. This re- port was joined in by a number of members; and it was perfectly plain that, no matter how humble or infirm, each member of this Douglas county democracy was made to feel the tender personal in- terest of his fellow members.
The association meets regularly once a month. It has social fes- tivals and feast days besides. It publishes a little booklet with the names of all its members, living and dead, the date when they came to Nebraska and, if departed, the date of their long journey hence. Long life to the pioneers and may their children revere their memory and imitate their virtues!
IN HOWARD COUNTY.
The Old Settlers Historical Society of Howard county met in an- nual meeting at St. Paul on April 13 and reelected the old officers for the ensuing year, towit:
J. N. Paul, president Paul Anderson, first vice president.
Z. T. Leftwich, second vice president
Robert Harvey, secretary N. J. Paul, treasurer
The meeting was largely attended by tlie pioneers of the county, and considerable business of importance was transacted.
One of the important features of the meeting was the appointment of the clerk of the district court to act as custodian to receive, num- ber, register and preserve the photographs of all Howard county men already in the service, now being called, and liereafter to be called to the colors, as an honor roll of the men inaking the great sacrifice of their lives for their country.
.
Robert Harvey
OF
's
NEBRASKA AND RECORD
HISTORY PIONEER DAYS
NEBRASKA HISTORY AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS
Published Monthly by the Nebraska State Historical Society
Editor, ADDISON E. SHELDON Associate Editors The Staffs of the Nebraska State Historical Society and Legislative Reference Bureau
Subscription $2.00 Per Year
" All sustaining members of the Nebraska State Historical Society receive Nebraska History without further payment.
q Entered as second class mail matter, under act of July 16, 1894, at Lincoln, Nebraska, April 2, 1918.
VOLUME I.
APRIL AND MAY, 1918 NUMBERS 3 AND 4
NOW AND THEN
Twenty below, and I hear the wind roaring, See the snow drifting and filling the air, And I'm quite agreed my papers to read, To sit by the fire in a well-cushioned chair.
JUNE
Where drifts were piled high, green grass will be growing, Soft breezes will murmur, birds flit through the air :- I'm not re'lly complaining, but O, I am longing
To sit out-of-door in my old rocking chair. January, 1918 .- S. C. B.
A PESSIMISTIC MUSE.
The poet's zeal is dead and gone, No longer, burns poetici fire,
No longer thoughts blaze forth in rhyme To soft accompaniment of lyre.
Strangled at birth by cold neglect, Suffering the pangs of cruel scorn; 'Twould sure have been a kinder fate, Bétter never to have been born.
-S. C. B.
HISTORICAL MATERIAL IN NEMAHA COUNTY
While on a prospecting tour for the State Historical Society in May of this year Frank A. Harrison found much valuable material in Nemaha county. The biggest treasure was in a box covered with rub- bish in a basement at Auburn.
In this box were the first court records, sheriff's fee book, and other official documents of Nemaha county dating from 1855; books of the first treasurer of Brownville; records of the first Bible society; records of the early organization of an Episcopal church at Nemaha City; record book of the "Union Club" during the civil war; surplus bonds of the "Brownville & Ft. Kearney Railroad;" files containing hundreds of letters from men of note during the pioneer days; origi- nal maps and plats of Nemaha county and its boom towns; complete census returns for 1870, and much other material which had been lost to sight for nearly fifty years.
It is probable that in others of the old river counties there are cellars and garrets containing just as valuable historical material as that found in Nemaha county. It would seem to be a patriotic duty for old residents to inspect their old papers and report to the State Historical Society. In this way much valuable material will be saved for future generations.
KEEPING THE PIONEERS WITH US
Through the use of moving pictures we are able to bring before us almost the actual presence of the builders of Nebraska. It was a fortunate circumstance that a very fine film was taken of Charles E. Bessey working in his garden a few weeks before his death. Films were also secured of Isaac Pollard while engaged in the examination of fruit blossoms; Judge M. B. Reese visiting with another prominent member of the Nebraska bar; Mansel Davis, a Valley county pioneer, standing in the doorway of his original log house; John Q. Goss wel- coming a guest at his home in Bellevue; and others of men prominent in the early history of the state.
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