USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. I > Part 19
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The foregoing survey has only attempted to outline the first settlement, loca- tion, naming. area and organization of each county, attempting to give a chrono- logical perspective of the establishment of its varions towns, the waning of those that have disappeared or fallen behind, and closing with as complete a roster of
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the present towns as could be secured. In attempting to name so many inland points in the various counties, many of which are hardly towns, but mere settlements with perhaps a school, church, store and garage, or some of those institutions, no doubt numerous inland communities just as worthy of record have been overlooked and missed, but their presence has not been intentionally slighted in any degree.
ORIGIN OF NEBRASKA NAMES
The name "Nebraska" first appeared in print about 1812. the year in which John C. Fremont made his explorations through this region, and in his report spoke of the "Nebraska River." This was the Otoe Indian name for the Platte, derived from the Otoe word, "Ne-brath-ka," meaning "Flat Water." Secretary of War William Wilkins, in his report of November 30, 1844, says "The Platte or Nebraska River being the central stream would very properly furnish a name to the (proposed) territory.
COUNTY NAMES
The origin of the names given to the ninety-three counties of Nebraska is very interesting. It is rather difficult to figure this out with perfect accuracy, for numerous counties derived their names from legislative enactment, with no regis- tration made of the source from which the proposer derived the names selected, and other counties took their names from local sources, even when the name rather intimates being a memorial to some well known publie servant, and in still others, the true origin still remains a matter of unsettled contention.
A dozen Nebraska counties received names which commemorate one of the Presidents of the United States; Washington (George Washington, President 1189-1797) ; Adams, for John Adams, 1797-1801: Jefferson, for Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809; Madison, for James Madison, 1809-1817; Polk, for James K. Polk, 1845-1849; Fillmore, for James Fillmore, 1850-1853: Pierce, bearing same name as Franklin Pierce, 1853-1857; Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln, 1861-1865; Grant, for U. S. Grant. 1869-1877 : Hayes, for Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877-1881 ; Garfield, for James A. Garfield, 1881; and Arthur, for Chester A. Arthur, 1881-1885. The county now Platte, once bore the name of Monroe, for President James Monroe, 1817-1825. It is often thought that Jolmson County may have received its name from President Andrew Johnson, 1865-1869, but it more than likely received it from the memory of Gen. R. M. Johnson, for whose wife the county seat was first named and later changed to Tecumseh, for the famous Indian chief who is supposed to have been killed in battle by General Johnson.
Numerous other counties bear the names of statesmen who left their impress upon American history, even if they did not in some instances attain the coveted goal of the presidency. The names bestowed upon Franklin, Hamilton, Knox and Wayne counties bring to memory the names of Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and their two contemporaries of Revolutionary times. Boone County's name pays tribute to Daniel Boone of Kentucky; Cass, recalls to mind General Lewis Cass of Michigan ; and the names of the great triumvirate of statesmen of the period between 1820 and 1850 were commemorated in this state, though one memorial fell by the wayside. Webster County recalls Daniel Webster; Clay County pays tribute to Henry Clay, and is a name tried twice, once upon a
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county later divided between Gage and Lancaster, and finally upon the present Clay County. The county given the name of Calhoun later became Saunders. Quite fittingly did the name of Douglas befall the lot of the most populous county of the state. for to Stephen A. Douglas was much eredit dne for the establishment of statehood to Nebraska. Another senator, Augustus C. Dodge of Iowa, who intro- duced a statehood bill, was similarly honored. Three members of President Lincoln's cabinet, Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of State William Il. Seward and Secretary of War. Edwin M. Stanton have had their names preserved to posterity by Nebraska counties. Vice-President Schuyler Colfax was similarly honored. Horace Greeley and James G. Blaine were two statesmen whose names are preserved in Nebraska's County Roll. Dixon and Harlan are two more counties that bear names, probably from other lessen statesmen.
A considerable group of generals of the Civil war period were likewise honored, no doubt largely because of the reverence for their careers carried by legislators who had seen service in their commands. In addition to General (President ) Grant. such respect was paid to Generals William T. Sherman, Philip H. Sheridan, O. O. Howard, Hooker. Thomas. Logan, McPherson and the compiler is not sure of the name Wheeler. Custer County plainly bears the suggestion of Gen. George A. Custer: as does Kearney. the respect shown to Gen. Stephen W. Kearney, and Cherry was named for Lieutenant Cherry. The county of Holt commemorates the Indian period.
Reverting to the local statesmen of Nebraska's early political history, in numer- ous instances, similar tribute was paid to some governor, senator or state official. The following governors, territorial and state, were thus honored : Francis Burt ; Mark W. Izard, by a county that afterwards lost this name; William 1. Richardson ; Black and Morton were passed. though Morton was so carried for a time; and finally Saunders, the last territorial governor, whose namesake took away the name Calhoun from that statesman's memory. Secretary and Acting Governor Thomas B. Cuming received an honor that stayed. Secretary Paddock's county, which was to be cut out of Holt, did not hold that name. It has often been thought that Hall County was named in honor of Judge Augustus Hall, then chief justice at the time of its legislative organization. but local tradition attributes the name to a local party. business partner of an early sheriff of that county.
Beginning with David Butler. the first state governor. numerous successors in this office received this tribute. Of the next six governors. all were so honored except Silas Garber, namely Robert W. Furnas, Albinus Nance, James W. Dawes. John M. Thayer and James E. Boyd. The few counties organized during the administrations of the succeeding governors were named from other sources. Secretary of State John J. Gosper, 18:3-1875. was the only minor state officer to be so honored. unless it might have been that the prestige of Attorney General Champion S. Chase, rather than Lincoln's cabinet officer of that name. influenced the naming of that county. Several United States senators have been thus honored in Nebraska. The honor accorded to John M. Thayer in naming such a county came rather during his days of prestige from the senatorship than his later regime as governor. Hitchcock County was named for United States Senator Phineas W. Hitchcock, father of Nebraska's present Senator. Gilbert M. Hitchcock. Saunders, of course, served as both governor and senator. Senator Thurston, from 1895-1901. had one of the later counties named in his honor. Keith County may have taken its
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name from Judge Keith : Dundy took its name from United States Judge Elmer S. Dundy ; Morrill County, from Charles H. Morrill, president of State Board of Agriculture for some years; Brown County bears a name attributable to a number of sources; Sarpy County bears honor to the pioneer of early days, long before territorial organization, Peter A. Sarpy; and a number of counties bear names, the source of which is not readily explainable; Dawson, Nuckolls, Merrick, Phelps, At least three counties were named for prominent railroad officials, Kimball, Deuel and Perkins; Gage was named for Rev. W. D. Gage, chaplain of the legislative session which enacted the county's existence. Lancaster and York were names bestowed by the Legislature of 1855, attributed by many to the towns and families of those names in English history.
This leaves a group of counties which bear names, the significance of which can be surmised from their very meaning: Antelope and Buffalo preserve the memory of two of the great family of animals found by the white man when he arrived in Nebraska; Platte, Loup and Nemaha coincide with the names of nearby rivers ; Frontier, Valley, Banner, Garden, Rock and Saline bear witness to physical qualities of the region ; Scotts Bluff and Box Butte are attributable to noted land- marks within their own borders; Cedar and Red Willow call to mind the names of Nebraska trees; and another group of counties bear mnte tribute to Indian tribes that formerly traversed their areas; Cheyenne, Keya Paha, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Sioux, Ponca and Dakota. The greatest inconsistencies perhaps crept into naming Frontier to a county not on the frontier especially: Valley to a county, no more so appropriate than many others: Saline to a county whose neighbors have deposits of that product rather than itself.
Some names just as worthy as the fortunate one had to be passed by, names of statesmen just as worthy of honor as many who did receive the same. It would seem that Governors Izard, Black, James and Garber made just as creditable record as the other early state executives. Charles Sumner, whose name is not preserved in the state in county or town, gave early currency to, if not actual coining, the phrase that stands forth in Nebraska's motto; "Equality Before the Law."
CHAPTER VI
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT
FORMATIVE STEPS-AREA-OFFICERS-GOVERNOR CUMING'S ADMINISTRATION-GOV- ERNOR IZARD'S ADMINISTRATION-GOVERNOR RICHARDSON-GOVERNOR BLACK- GOVERNOR SAUNDERS-NEBRASKA'S PART IN THE CIVIL WAR-NINTHI TO TWELFTH LEGISLATURES-EVOLUTION INTO STATEHOOD-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1866-OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE TERRITORY.
Formatire Steps. There are a vast number of details. historically important and very interesting, concerning the formation and growth of the territory of Nebraska, and its evolution into statehood, and its development into one of the banner states of this great Union, now composed of a sisterhood of forty-eight states. It will be possible in this restricted view to only grasp the structural points of this evolution, and this probably can be best accomplished through another chronological survey.
1844. This being the year of the first practically permanent settlements. is a good starting point. As the first projection of the old Fort Kearney and the Mor- mon arrivals at Florence took place in this year, they touched the eastern border of a vast region extending from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains, known vaguely and indefinitely as the "Platte Country." It might as well be mentioned right here, that the dominant politieal issue of the next decade, intervening between this point and Nebraska's final erection as a territory was slavery. It was inter- jected not only into political affairs, but economie, business, social, church and civic activities as well as state atfairs. The fierce struggle over the admission of Missouri had ended without an open disruption of the Union but had left its mark of con- tention so rapidly gaining a grip upon the affairs of the country that the very sug- gestion of farther territory to the west, available for territories or states, opened the matter for bitter struggle at once. In this year, 1844, two events forerunning the erection of the new territory occurred. November 30, the first official use of the name "Nebraska" was made by Secretary of War William Wilkins, who suggested the "Platte" or "Nebraska" river country as a good area for another state and December 17, Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, introduced his first Nebraska bill in the House of Representatives at Washington, an effort which came to naught in immediate results, but far reaching in its foundation effects.
1848. Stephen A. Douglas made another futile attempt, by his introduction of the second Nebraska bill.
1851. Another attempt to project a territory west of Iowa and Missouri, even failed to reach a vote, in the session of 1851-2.
1853. This year marks the beginning of the real and final efforts. Willard P. Ilall of Missouri, offered a measure, on December 13, 1852, attempting to organize the Territory of "Platte," but from the Committee on Territories, William A.
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Richardson, of Illinois, secured the reporting of a bill organizing the Territory of Nebraska, but despite the very warm opposition of the southern members, this bill went to the Senate accompanied by pro-slavery blasts of warning. Stephen A. Douglas got it out of the committee in the Senate, but too late to secure its adoption in that session. In the fall of 1853, a number of men assembled at Bellevue, and delegated Hadley D. Johnson, a prominent citizen of Conneil Blutfs, Iowa, to repre- sent them in this matter. On December 14, 1853, Senator Augustus C. Dodge, of Iowa, introduced another Nebraska bill. Senator Douglas, on January 23, 1854, offered a bill so amending Senator Dodge's offering that it left little but the title, and proposing instead of one territory, Nebraska, set forth two, the other to be called "Kansas." This bill, with some further amendments, was passed on March 4, in the Senate and in the House in May, and signed by President Pierce on May 60, 1854.
.Irea. The territory as then formed contained 351,558 square miles, extending from the 40th parallel of north latitude to the British Possessions, and from the Missouri River to the summit of the Rocky Mountains. On February 28, 1861. 16,035 square miles were set off to the Territory of Colorado; and on March 2d. 228,907 square miles to Dakota. A triangular tract of 15,378 square miles received later from Washington and Utah territories was included in a 45,999 square miles area taken from Nebraska and given to Idaho, March 3, 1863, which later step virtually reduced Nebraska to its present limits.
Officers. The first corps of territorial officers appointed by President Pierce were as follows :- governor, Francis Burt of Carolina; his secretary, Thomas B. Cuming, of Iowa; chief justice of the courts, Fenner Ferguson, of Michigan; associate justices James Bradley of Indiana, and Edward R. Hardin, of Georgia; marshal. Mark W. Izard, of Arkansas, and attorney, Experience Estabrook, of Wis- consin. Governor Burt reached the Territory in ill-health, on the 6th day of October. 1854, and proceeded to Bellevue, where he was the guest of Rev. Wm. J. Hamilton, at the old Mission House. Ilis illness proved of a fatal character, and he died on October 18, 1854. Thus ended most tragically and shortly the first gubernatorial administration in Nebraska, before it could shape any official record.
From this point, it will be necessary to review the territorial government, giving brief outline of the important events of each administration, and a brief record of the important accomplishments of each territorial legislature.
1854. GOVERNOR CUMING. The first act of Acting Governor Thomas B. Cuming was the official proclamation of the death of Governor Burt. Chief Justice Fer- guson of the Courts had arrived in the state on October 11, and Justice Bradley on October 14, but Justice Hardin did not arrive until December 1st. Marshal Izard arrived on the 20th of October, the day after Governor Burt's funeral. Governor Cuming's administration, as acting governor, lasted until February, 1855. Impor- tant events transpiring in these four months were :- Capital location. For the seat of government, a fierce competition ensned between Bellevue, Florence, Omaha, Nebraska City and Plattsmouth, and Acting Governor Cuming decided upon Omaha, although his official place of residence remained at Bellevue, until January, 1855. First census. An enumeration was ordered taken on October 24, 1854, which showed a total of 2,732 inhabitants. Considerable discrepancies were later shown to have developed in this task and it bears no material worth as a reliable historical record. The territory was divided into the eight original counties ; Burt, Washington, Douglas,
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Dodge. Cass. Pierce. Forney and Richardson. The first general election was held on December 12, 1854, and on December 20, 1854. a proclamation was issued calling on the First Territorial Legislature to meet at Omaha. on January 16, 1855.
First Legislature. Convened in a two-story brick building at Omaha, at 10 o'clock A. M., January 16. 1855. Temporary officers were Hiram P. Bennett. of Pierce County. president pro tem. The Committee on Credentials were Joseph L. Sharp. Richardson, who became president of the council. J. C. Mitchell of Washington County and Luke Nuckolls, of Cass County. In the Representatives the temporary organization was John M. Latham, of Cass County. speaker. and J. W. Paddock, as chief clerk pro tem .. and later permanently. The permanent speaker was A. J. Hanscom, of Douglas. The important part of the governor's message. after his allusions to the loss of Governor Burt, was that pertaining to the Pacific Railway. Local machinery of government was provided for and county officers created. The criminal code of lowa, with some slight. necessary alterations, was adopted for the regulation of the new territory. Three institutions of learning were incorporated. Simpson University at Omaha, the Nebraska University at Omaha. and the Col- Jegiate and Preparatory Institute at Nebraska City. The favorable report of the committee. of which M. H. Clark of Dodge County was chairman. upon the bill chartering the Platte Valley and Pacific Railroad Company was the far reaching act of this Legislature.
Other Events of This Period. Other events transpiring in the territory. prior to February, 1855, which were foundation stones in the various lines of activity of the commonwealth. were :- December 23. Acting-Governor Cuming called for two volunteer regiments for defense against the Indians : December 30th-a convention at Nebraska City adopted resolutions asking that General Bela Hughes of Missouri. be appointed governor and Dr. P. J. McMahon. of Iowa for secretary. January 26. 1855. The territorial capital was definitely located at Omaha.
GOVERNOR IZARD'S ADMINISTRATION. On February 20. 1855. Gov. Mark W. Izard. delivered his inaugural address, as the second official governor of the territory. and he resigned on October 25, 1857. In his administration considerable progress was made. The postoffice at Bellevue was established in March. 1855. with Daniel E. Reed as postmaster. In the same month. the first session of district court was held at Bellevue. Several churches were organized that year, in Omaha. Brown- ville. and Nebraska City. In January. 1856. Mrs. Amelia Bloomer delivered an ad- dress on votes for women in Omaha in the Second Legislature's Hall. The boundary lines of many counties were fixed by the Legislature. in 1856. A road was surveyed and its construction began. from Omaha to Fort Kearney. The real and personal property was assessed and another census taken. which revealed the presence of 10,116 inhabitants. The foregoing facts mentioned. cover mainly the activities of the Second Territorial Legislature which convened at Omaha, on December 18. 1855. Hon. A. D. Jones. of Douglas, was an important figure in this session. and it was he who mainly handled the matter of designating names to the various counties provided for by this session. B. R. Folsom. president of Council and P. C. Sullivan. speaker of the House.
Third Session of Legislature. Convened at Omaha. January 5. 1857. L. L. Bowen, president of the Council, and O. F. Lake chief clerk: I. L. Gibbs was speaker of the House, and J. H. Brown chief clerk. In this session. the first attempt was made to remove the capital from Omaha. Governor Izard
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promptly vetoed a bill proposing to establish it at a town to be named "Douglas." He also vetoed the most striking piece of legislation advanced hy this session, the repeal of the criminal code, but they passed it over his veto and left the territory without any criminal laws.
Fourth Legislature. This session began on December 8, 1857. Ilon. George L. Miller of Omaha was elected president of the Council, Washburn Satford, chief clerk, and of the House, Hon. J. HI. Decker, of Otoe, was speaker and S. M. Curran, chief elerk. The memorable event of this session was the secession of a portion of its membership, who attempted to set up a separate assembly at Florence. This division resulted from further attempts to remove the capital from Omaha. This ruption bloeked all further attempts to accomplish anything at this session, and it expired on January 16th, by limitation. For a second time Thomas B. Cuming had been aeting governor, since the resignation of Governor Izard.
GOVERNOR RICHARDSON. Gov. William A. Richardson arrived on January 12th, 1858. ITis official earcer was short, as he resigned within a few months and left the territory upon December 5th, whereupon See. J. Sterling Morton became aeting governor. In the period of sixteen months, from Governor Richardson's accession until Governor Black took office, political lines began to form themselves. The first politieal convention in the territory had taken place on January 8. 1858. in Omaha, as a democratic mass convention. The republicans followed suit on January 18th at Omaha. A special legislative session was convened on September 21, 1858.
Fifth Legislatire Session. Bowen and Curran were president and chief elerk of the Council, and HI. P. Bennet, was speaker and E. G. MeNeely, chief elerk of the House. A committee consisting of Hons. R. W. Furnas, W. E. Moore and Geo. W. Doane, reported resolutions upon the death of See. Thomas B. Cum- ing, which had occurred on March 23, 1858. Representative S. G. Daily introduced a bill on November 1, to "abolish slavery in the Territory of Nebraska." It was referred to a special committee, consisting of S. G. Daily, James Stewart, John Taffe, D. P. Rankin, and William C. Fleming. Two reports, with the majority report being favorable, were returned, but the measure was finally laid upon the table.
Gov. S. W. BLACK. Gov. Samuel W. Black, arrived on May 2, 1859, and re- lieved Acting Gov. (Secretary) J. Sterling Morton of the reins of office. In the first months of his administration, events of interest that transpired were, among, of course, many others not detailed here :- The action in June, of advocates of annexation to Kansas who visited the Kansas constitutional convention. That body allowed them to be heard, but took no action toward extending the boundaries of that state : in August, the democratic convention at Plattsmouth, nominated the first democratie tieket, and the republicans followed with a similar convention nine days later, at Plattsmouth. From September 21-24, the first territorial agricultural and mechanical fair was held at Nebraska City. October 11, Chief Justice Fenner Ferguson died.
Sixth Session of Legislature. Convened at Omaha, December 5, 1859. Of the Council, E. A. Donelan, was president and S. M. Curran remained chief clerk ; and in the House, Silas A. Strickland was speaker, and James W. Moore, chief clerk. In Governor Black's message he called attention to the fact that sinee 1854 the territory had expanded from eight counties, to twenty-three with representative there and thirty-five organized or their boundaries fixed by law. The fight over
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slavery sprang forth as the main issue in this session. William Il. Taylor introduced a bill to abolish slavery in Nebraska, citing that the census of 185t had shown thirteen slaves living in Nebraska, and gave the names of men who held slaves at the time he was pushing his measure. George L. Miller argued that the measure was not of sufficient importance to warrant the agitation it ereated, that Nebraska was in no danger of becoming either a slave territory or state, and George W. Doane concurred in his views. Similar attempts appeared in the House, but in the end they were all voted down for the time being. Another notable feature of this session was the first active attempt to raise Nebraska to statehood. A bill was passed at this session, submitting the proposition to the people of the state, and at an election on March 5. 1860. it was rejected by a vote of 2,373 to 2,094.
Seventh Legislature. This session convened on December 3, 1860, with Gov- eruor Black still in office. W. H. Taylor was president, and E. P. Brewster, chief clerk of the Council, and in the House, H. W. DePuy was speaker and George L. Seybolt was chief clerk. During this session, slavery received its final quietus. John M. Thayer in the Council and Representative Mathias introduced bills, and when the House Bill was passed, then vetoed by the governor, it received passage over the veto. Governor Black was the last of the succession of democratic gov- ernors who had presided over the territory since 1854. He left the territory on May 2, 1861, and died on the field of battle in defense of the Union, in the second year of the war.
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