USA > Nebraska > Nebraska history and record of pioneer days, Vol. III > Part 3
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During his tour of duty at Jefferson Barracks, the Black Hawk War of 1832 came on. Gen. Atkinson commanded the troops in this short, hut bloody campaign, April-September, 1832, which termin- ated with the capture of the celebrated chief, Black Hawk, and his confinement at Jefferson Barracks. Ile was criticized by the press for what was fermed his harsh treatment of Black Hawk in confining him under heavy gnard with hall and chain, but Gen. Atkinson seems to have had a very good knowledge of Indian character as is evi- denced by the following taken from Thwaites History of the Black Hawk War: "Gen. Atkinson, however, was energetic and possessed of much executive ability, and overcame these difficulties as rapidly as possible. He had military skill, courage, perseverance, and knowl- edge of Indian character, and during his preparations for the cam- paign took pains to personally assure himself of the peaceful atti- tude of those Sacs and Foxes not members of the British band." The Indians named Gen. Atkinson, "The Whito Beaver." Upon the com- pletion of the Black Hawk War, Gen. Atkinson returned to Jeller- son Barracks, Mo., and remained in command of this Western Dept. tili his death in 1842.
Gen. llenry Atkinson married Miss Mary Bullit, of the well known family of that name from Kentucky. He had one son, Edward Graham Atkinson, who married a Miss Walker, daughter of Major Benjamin Walker of the Army, who for many years was statloned in St. Louis and well known in that City, and in the Army.
Colonel Benjamin Walker Atkinson, only son of Edward Graham Atkinson, married Miss Caroline Bayard Randolph, whose father was an army officer, and of the old Randolph family of tho South. He has two children, a married danghier, and a son, Liout. Benjamin Walker Atkinson, Jr., of the Marine Corps. Colonel Atkinson en- tered the service In 1882. He is now on duty as the Inspector of the New York Recruiting District, stationed in New York City.
In closing this brief outline of the military services of Gen. Atkinson, I cannot refrain from again snying how greatly pleased it has made me to be here today. I feel I belong in a way to Nebraska, if Nebraska will adopt me. This feeling has led me to make appli- eation to join the Nebraska Historical Society. This feeling goes back beyond today. In 1895 or 1896, I found among my grand- father's papers a letter telling of the arrival of the command here.
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Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days
FLAGS OF THE STATES
The following articie lists the states which have a state flag and gives year of adoption with description :
Alabama-1895, crimson cross of St. Andrew on field of white.
Arizona-Two stripes, upper red and lower blne Upper stripe is made up of thirteen rays of glory, alternating red and yellow. In center a large goldon star, overlaps the two stripes of which the flag is composed.
Arkansas-1913, red field with white diamond upon which ap- pears "Arkansas" with a blue star above and two hine stars below. White diamond surrounded by blne border with 25 white stars thercon.
California-1911, white with red stripe below and red star at union. Grizzly bear at center with "California Republic" in black below.
Colorado-1908, three stripes with C in gold.
Connecticut-Azure blue field with shield (arms of the state).
Delaware-1914, blue field, with great seal in center. "December 7, 1787" below.
Florida-1899, state seal on ground of white with red bars. Georgia-1879, one-third blue with state scal, remaining two- thirds divided Into three horizontal stripes, upper and lower red, middle white.
Idaho-1909, blne field, name of state and seal thereon.
Illinois-1915, state seal in hlack or national colors becomes state banner.
Indiana-1901, (hanner) blue field, 19 stars, and a flaming torch in gold or buff.
Towa-1917, white with American eagle holding in his beak the scroll with "Our Liberty We Prize and Our Rights We Will Main- tain" in bine letters. "Iowa" helow this in red letters.
Kansas-Blue with state seal.
Kentucky-1880, navy blue ground with seal in a wreath of goldenrod.
Louisiana-1912, blne field, with pelican feeding its young, "Union, Justice and Confidence" below.
Maine-1909, field of blue, coat of arms embroidered in silk.
Maryland-1904, shield of state (personal shield of Lord Balti- more), colors, red, hlack, gold, silver.
Massachusetts-1908, white field, seal in oenter.
Michigan-1911, blue field with arms of state thereon.
Minnesota-1893, blue field with state seal in center. Tip of staff has golden gopher.
Mississippi-after Civil War, blue, white and red stripes with a red union upon which appears a blue cross of St. Andrew and thir- teen while stars.
Missouri-1913, red. white and hlue horizontal stripes with band of blue in center, enclosing coat of arms of state on white ground, twenty-four stars on the blue hand.
Montana-1905, blue field with seal of state and gold fringe. Nebraska-
Nevada-Body of solid blue, seal in center with scroll ahout it, "Nevada" above, with eighteen gold stars, and motto below.
New Ilampshire-1909, blue field with state seal in center.
New Jersey-1896, yellow field, state scal in center.
New Mexico-Turquoise blue, union of American flag with forty- seven stars in it. In upper fly corner the figures 47, state seal in lower fly corner, "New Mexico" in white in center.
New York-1909, blue ground with arms in colors thereon.
North Dakota-1911, blue ground, yellow fringe or border, eagle in center, with olive branch and arrows; a shield with thirteen red and white stripes; "E plurihns unum." "North Dakota."
North Carolina-1885, red, white and hine ground, gold "N" and "C" with a star between, date helow and above-"April 12, 1776" and "May 20, 1775."
Ohio-1902, pennant shaped, three red and two white horizontal stripes, union consisting of seventeen white stars in a blne triangular field around a red disc with white O thereon.
Oklahoma-1911, red with white star bordered in blue, within the star the figures 46.
Oregon-Blne with state seal in center.
Pennsylvania-1907, blue field with state scal in colors.
Rhode Island-1877, white ground, on each side in center a golden anchor, underneath a blue ribbon with motto "Hope" in gold let- ters, surrounded hy thirteen gold stars, flag edged with yellow fringe. South Carolina-1861, bine with an argent crescent at the point in the unlon, with a white palmetto tree in tho center.
South Dakota-1909. bine field, blazing sun in center; "Sonth Dakota" above sun. "The Sunshine State" helow. On reverse of sun the state seal. Fringed edge.
Tennessee-1905, red field, blue bar at edge of fly, separated hy white bar. In red fleld, blue circle with white border, three stars on bluc circle.
Texas -- White and red stripe with hroad blue perpendicular stripe at hoist or staff side and upon if a white star.
Utali-1911, hilne field, gold fringe, center a shield with eagle ahove; six arrows at top of shield, crosswise, "Industry" and a bee- hive, and lilies growing. "Utah" below hive and "1847" helow Utah; two American flags crossed and draped above shield. "1896" below shield and flags. Whole design circled in gold.
Vermont-1862, thirteen red and white stripes, large white star in hlue field with coat of arms.
Virginia-1861, hlue field, white circle in center with coat of arms
thercon (on reverse sido the great seal), white silk fringe at fly edge.
Washington-Green field with state seal (front view of face of George Washington) in center.
West Virginia-1904, white with state seal, under which, on red scroll in gold letters "West Virginia."
Wisconsin-1913, dark blue silk, with state coat of arms embroid- ered on both sides.
Wyoming-1917, blue field with red border and white border next to the blue field. White buffalo in center, with state seal in colors on huffalo.
Willlam Hartford James, of Colfax, Washington, former secre- tary of state and acting governor of Nebraska, died February 2nd. He was born at Marion, Ohio, October 15, 1831, and received his education in the public schools supplemented by two years In the academy there. In 1853 he removed to Des Moines, lowa, and was admitted to the bar. JIe was married to Lonisa Epler in 1857 and. moved to Dakota county, Nebraska, where he had previously filed upon a claim. During his residence of fourteen years In Dakota county he was engaged in the practice of law and surveying; was a member of the first board of trustees of Dakota Clty and first board of aldermen, and was county attorney and justice of the peace. He was president of a democratic mass convention held in St. Johns, July 11, 1857. In 1864 he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln register of the land office at Dakota City and served five years. In the fall of 1870, Mr. James was elected secretary of state, on the republican ticket, and after the impeachment of Governor Butler in 1871, he became acting governor. In 1877 he removed to Colfax, Washing- ton, having been appointed register of the United States land office. He took a prominent part in public affairs in the carly days of Colfax and at one time was mayor.
Charles Frederick Gunther, a romantic figure in the history of Chicago, died February 10th; was a world renowned collector of historical art, especially Civil and Revolutionary war paintings and relics; born in Germany, March 6th, 1837; came with his parents to Pennsylvania In 1842. He was engaged in business In Memphis in 1860 and during the Civil War he served as an officer on a Confed- erate boat. He removed to Chicago in 1868 where he established one of the largest candy factories of the West; served as city treas- urer and was once candidate for governor of Illinois, Mr. Gunther was an honorary member of the Nebraska State Illstorical Society. elected in 1911, at which time he presented to the Society a larga nil painting depicting buffaloes grazing upon the Nebraska plains.
Passing of the Nebraska Pioneer
Mrs. J. W. Newell, resident of Nehraska since 1862, died in Blair, March 8th.
Francis Henry Yager, pioneer Otoe county since 1864, died in Ne- braska City, March 8th. Mrs. Yager died April 3, 1919 after they had celebrated their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Mrs. Mary S. Shannon, who came with her husband to Nebraska in 1859, died in Pawnec City March 9th.
Frank Maly, resident of Nebraska since 1866, died at his home near Crofton, March 10th.
Mrs. Eliza Reeves, a teacher In Otoe county in 1866, died in Alliance, March 10th.
John Volkhardy, born in Germany in 1835, died March 10th in Nebraska City where he had settled in 1864; participated in the Civil War toward its close.
Mrs. Matilda Sides, ninety-five years old, died at her farm res- idence near Dakota City, where she had lived for fifty-five years, coming to Nebraska in 1865. Her husband died Jannary 3, 1909, after which Mrs. Sides lived alone and looked after her household affairs with faculties nnimpaired until within a few days of her death.
Mrs. Marian Dripps Barnes who was horn at Bellevue, Nehraska, November 15, 1827, died in Barneston, March 11th. She was the daughter of Major Andrew Dripps and his wife, Ma-com-pli-mie, an Oto woman, Major Dripps was an agent of the American Fur Company and was in charge of the frontier post at Bellevne. Mrs. Barnes was educated In the Convent of the Visitation at Kaskaskla, Ill., and in 1856 was married to Francis M. Barnes, founder of tho town of Barneston.
Matthias Schmuecker, who came to Nebraska with his mother and her family by ox team in the fifties, died at his homo in Cuming county, near St. Charles, March 16th.
Mrs. Elizabeth LaGourge, who settled in Gago county in 1854, died in Beatrice March 21st,
John Henry Dundas, for fifty-seven years a resident of Nemaha county, dled at Auburn March 22nd; born in Kane county, Ill., in 1846; married March 29, 1871, to Wealthy J. Bishop; entered jour- nalism in 1884, when he purchased the Nebraska Republican; two years later purchased the Granger which he continued to cdlt and publish until five years ago; was senator from his (second) district in the legislainre of 1897; a member of the People's Independent Party and was a leader in antimonopoly and prohibition movements.
Frederick Wohlenberg, a resident of Lincoln since 1867, died March 26th.
Robert S. Sackley, resident of Nebraska since the carly sixties, died in Syracuse, March 27th.
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Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days
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That letter I cannot quote, being inaccessible now, but I am sure a copy is in the Historical Society's records. The letter was copied and sent by me to the "Omaha Bee." It was published and followed (as recollected) by a letter in the same newspaper which stated Gen. Atkinson's letter has settled a long dispute as to the exact location of The first Fort. This letter was the beginning of my acquaintance with the Nebraska Historical Society, for I shortly received a letter from the Honorable J. Sterling Morton, asking me to write an ac- count of the Missouri River Expedition, from St. Louis to Council Bluffs, from such data as was accessible. I dug into the old records of the Gth Inf., (being Staff Officer of that famous regiment) but be- fore the completion of my work, was ordered to the Philippine Islands. Tho material collected was sent to the Secretary of the Society. On my return a few years later, I was again hunted np and asked to com- plete my work, but before this could be done, orders again took me back to the Islands. I sent by express to the Secretary a number of the old order books of the regiment and photographs were made of some of the old orders, the books being returned to me on the eve of my sailing. A photograph of one of the old orders appears in the State Journal of Sept. 14, last. In 1911, while stationed at Ft. Crook, I made a trip to this old Fort with my wife and son. We en- joyed a most interesting and pleasant day under the guidance of Mr. Woods going over the old reservation. My son dug up and brought away as a souvenir a half brick from a point where Mr. Wood told him his great grandfather's quarters stood. A few weeks ago your well known Secretary, Mr. Sheldon, located me again through the War Dept. and invited me most earnestly to come here today and make a reply to the sentiment "Gen. Atkinson, the founder of Ft. Atkin- son." I have endeavored to do this, be as brief as possible and trust I have not worn out your patience. I thank you.
The commissioners to make treaties with the Upper Missouri River Indians started from Fort Atkinson, on the transport Antelope, October seventh, 1825, and the Missouri Republican of October 24th notes that they arrived at St. Louis on the 20th of the month.
By anthority of an act of Congress of March second, 1821, the army was organized in 1822 into two grand divisions, the eastern and the western, and each division was divided into departments. General Atkinson was commander of the first department of the Western division. In the year 1829, however, he was temporarily connnander of the western division, in the place of Major General Edmund P. Gaines, and Major Winfield Scott was the commander for 1828. With these exceptions, General Gaines was commander from the year of the reorganization, 1822, until that plan of division was discontinued in 1842.
There were two campaigns in the Black Hawk war of 1832, though they were perhaps not clearly distinct. The first was commanded by General James D. Henry, brigadier general of Illinois militia, who was possessed of great courage and native military aenmen. On the 21st of July he won the battle of Wisconsin Heights, which occurred near the Wisconsin river, about twenty-tive miles northwest of the site now occupied by Madison. This was the beginning of the end of the war. At the final battle- of Bad Axe-on the second of Aug- ust. General Atkinson commanded in person, though just as Colonel Richard M. Johnson had done at the battle of the Thames, Henry saw the eritical time and place to make the charge, and made it. In The Story of the Black Hawk War, ( Wisconsin Historical Collections, XII), from which Colonel Atkinson quotes above, Mr. Thwaites, the author, says:
It appears that there was much jealousy displayed by Atkinson, at the Fact that the lanrels of the campaign, such as they were, had thus far been won by the volunteers; and Henry, as the chief of the victors at Wisconsin Heights, was especially unpopular at head- quarters.
In the disposition of the troops for the battle, Henry's command was left without orders. "This," continues the story, "was clearly an affront to Henry, Atkinson's design doubtless being to crowd him out of what all anticipated would be the closing engagement of the campaign, and what little glory might come of it. But the fates did not desert the brigadier."
Extended accounts of the Yellowstone expedition of 1819, by myself, are printed in volume XVII, Collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society, in this magazine of July-September, 1919, and in the Sunday State Journal of October 12, 1919. A. W.
THE LAND WHERE THE JONATHANS GROW.
Bayard Taylor, world traveler and poet, once wrote that the Missouri River valley was unrivalled as a land of rich agricultural resources and beauty of landscape. Many observers since have confirmed his vlew. A circlo two hundred inlles In diameter with its eenter at the southeast corner of Nebraska encloses a region whose possibilities as a home for the human raco cannot be beaten on the planet.
A barrel of Jonathan apples sent from the Weaver orchards at Falls Clty, by Arthur J. Woavor, president of tho Nebraska Constl- tutional Convention of 1920, to the secretary of the State Historical
Society, brings Fresh evidence of the productive power of that favored region and was inspiration for the following reply:
WHERE THE JONATHANS GROW
There's a bench of brown bluffs By the Big Muddy shores,
From Plattsmouth way down to Saint Joe,-
Where God finished making the world out-of-doors,- 'Tis the land where the Jonathans grow.
There the soil is wind-blown from old lakes overthrown In the ages gone by long ago,
Bnt il blossoms in May while the white orchards say: "Watch the Winesap and Jonathan grow."
The alfalfa plant blooms on the crest of those hills While its roots pierce the subsoil betow.
And the apple roots sink sixty feet deep to drink Of the springs where the sweet waters llow.
The warm sun and soft breeze Kiss and rock the tall trees In the long summer days to and fro,
Till they blend into one -- waters, wind, soil and sun- As their children, the Jonathans, grow.
There's the tang of old wine in those apples divine, There's the breath of south winds in Their cells, And a musky perfume like the alfalfa bloom, Which the apple roots drink from deep wells.
There's a red, rosy bliss like a lover's last kiss On the cheek of a maiden ! know,
Blushing deep on the face of the Jonathan race In this land where the Jonathans grow.
Till the end of my days let me live in that land Where the apple tree blooms-and the rose -- Where The honey bee sips purple alfalfa lips And the nectar-like Jonathan grows.
--- Addison E. Sheldon.
H. M. BUSHNELL
Death of II. M. Bushnell:
Mr. M. M. Bushnell who passed away just as tho new year was eoming in was probably the best known Nebraska editor in tbo stato. Ilis editorial experienco dated back to 1876 at Plattsmouth. It In- eluded the stormy and strenuous days of the Lincoln Dally Call from 1888 to 1894, and since that thno a continuous connection with var- lous publications and public enterprises. Mr. Bushnell held the positions of president of the Nebraska Press Assoclallon, president of the Nebraska Soclety, Sons of the American Revolution and for many years was an active member of the Stato Historical Society.
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NEBRASKA AND RECORD OF
HISTORY PIONEER DAYS
NEBRASKA HISTORY AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS
Published Quarterly 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.
" Entered as second class mail matter, under act of July 16, 1894, at Lincoln, Nebraska, April 2, 1918.
VOLUME 11I.
JULY-SEPTEMBER, 1920 NUMBER 3.
The April Blizzard, 1873
The slanderous proclamation by Nebraska newspapers that the well- mannered snowstorm of April 3, 1920, was a blizzard because it was beneficently copious, calls for some account of the real thing of April, 1873, which began late in the afternoon of the 13th and lasted with little abatement threngh three nights and days. The 1920 storm in- creased in violence in its eastward course-a very conimon occurrence by the way-though it nowhere deserved the name of superlative im- port.
Eastern and southwestern land interests very selfishly strove to keep the Nebraska country a perpetual dumping-ground for the Indians they wished' to be rid of and accordingly opposed its territorial organization. Partly through the inertia of that early spitefulness, and for the rest through its immemorial provincialism, the East has habitually tried to be funny at the trans-Missouri country's expense. In fact, Nebraska is relatively immune from real blizzards. There are two reliably re- corded. the one of 1873; the other of 1888. There have been few, if any, others during the period of occupation by white people.
The fortunes of Nebraska seemed so precarious even as late as tlie seventies that The Omaha Republican advised against telling to the world the whole truth about the storm of 1873; but the Bec and the Herald criticized their contemporary for cowardice and praised their own bold truthfulness. The hyperbole habit-applying extravagant epi- thets to ordinary things leaves 'no words properly to characterize truly extraordinary ones and thus beggars the language.
The storm of 1873 was about two hundred miles wide in Nebraska, but it was probably most violent in the two adjoining tiers of counties comprising Nance and Platte on the north and those lying south as far as the Kansas line. It extended into Dakota on the north and Kansas on the south, but according to available reports, not very far or vio- Jently. At Yankton it was rough enough to cause severe suffering to the men and horses of the Seventh U. S. Cavalry. Papers accompany- ing the report of the secretary of war for 1873, inform us that this reg- iment was on the march from the department of the South to Fort Ab- raham Lincoln and Fort Rice to suppress hostile Indians and to pro- tect surveyors of the line of the Northern Pacific railroad westward from the Missouri River, and of the northern boundary of Dakota. The staff, band and four companies left Louisville, the regiment's headquarters, on April 2, and the other eight companies started from Memphis in three separate detachments on April 3, 4 and 5. Fort Abraham Lincoln was established on the west bank of the Missouri at the crossing of the
Northern Pacific railroad, on June 14, 1872, but was called Fort McKeen until November 19, 1872. Bismarck was just getting a start not far above on the opposite side. Fort Rice was established July 11, 1864, on the west bank of the river, about twenty miles in a direct line below the subsequent site of Fort Abraham Lincoln. This regiment was part of the Yellowstone Expedition which was sent to establish a depot of sup- plies at a point on the projected line of the railroad near the confluence of Powder river with the Yellowstone. The site chosen was at the mouth of Glendive Creek, now within Dawson county, Montana, near its eastern boundary. The Northern Pacific railroad, in its westward course, first struck the Yellowstone at this point. The town of Glen- dive, on the same site, is the capital of Dawson county,
The Daily State Journal of April 15, 1873, relates that two boys were severely injured in Lincoln on Sunday by a shed being blown over upon them; and on the 22d that a man was killed by the wind in Olive Branch precinct on Monday, but it mentions no other casualties. On the 16th the Journal said that the snow was six feet deep at Grand Is- land and that a gale of sixty miles an hour had blown down all the tel- egraph wires along the Union Pacific railroad. No trains had reached Lincoln from the west on the Burlington and Missouri road but they had come in on time from the east. Lincoln was "enjoying" the fourth day of the storm on the 16th. On the 18th it said that the storm had abated en the Union Pacific line and that it hoped that communication by rail and telegraph with the Pacific slope would soon be opened.
On the 20th-Sunday-the Journal said that General Otto Funke, of Lincoln, was snow-bound at Sutton, on the Burlington road, from Sun- day until Friday, when he got to Crete on horseback. There had been great damage to buildings al Sutton and iu its vicinity, and large num bers of horses and cattle were smothered in the snow. Near Grafton the heuse of the Keeler family, comprising husband, wife and one child, blew in upon them, and in trying to reach a neighbor's, half a mile dis- tant, the mother and child perished. After they were dead the nearly crazed father pressed on and arrived at his goal in an exhausted con- dition. The storm was roughest between Grafton and Sutton.
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