NEBRASKA HISTORY AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS VOL I, NO. 7, NOV 1918 Transcribed from a copy of the original publication by the submitters. Submitted to the USGenWeb Nebraska Archives, January, 1998, by Ted and Carole Miller (susieque@pacbell.net). USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. *************** NEBRASKA HISTORY AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS Vol. I, no. 7, Nov. 1918 (Original had no Table of Contents) Secretary Sheldon in Europe (NSHS WW I collections) 1 Father Christian Hoecken (in Sarpy documents) 1 Original Owner of Gibbon Town Site Dies - GILMORE, Mrs. Jane Thorp 1 Charles McDonald, Nonagenarian Pioneer (birthday celebration at North Platte) 1 News Clippings: skeletons found at Alliance; triplets; Bayard Transcript 31st anniversary; 1 WILLIAMS couple reunited after 40 years; birthday of F.X. DeLONE French Settlement at Julian, Nemaha Co 2 Tombstone Inscriptions at Julian, NE 2 News Clips: CARRE reunion at Beatrice; C.M. CHERRY's 50th anniv. at Weeping Water 2 Passing of NE Pioneers (since 2 Sep 1918) 3 KENNEDY, John - Otoe Co 3 BURNS, M.J. - Otoe Co 3 HOSKINS, Alfred P. - Dodge Co 3 GAWTHORNE, George - Otoe Co (died in TX) 3 BANNING, William Henry - Otoe Co 3 BARNICH, William - Douglas Co 3 TEX, Mrs. Mary - Sarpy Co 3 COOLIDGE, Henry P. - Platte Co 3 THOMAS, James 3 NOYES, Albert - Nemaha Co 3 HALL, P.S. - Cass Co 3 McAUSLAND, Miss Agnes - Douglas Co 3 OSBORN, John Martin - Pawnee Co (died in CA) 3 RIX, Nicholaus - Washington Co 3 KRUEGER, Mrs. Bertha - Seward Co 3 BLANKENSHIP, John - Nemaha Co 3 SMITH, Henry W. - Colfax Co 3 THIES, Mrs. Albert - Otoe Co 3 STOLL, Mrs. Louisa - Cass Co 3 TABER, Mrs. Calvin G. - Cass Co 3 AIRD, Hugh - Otoe Co 3 REED, Lewis S. - Douglas Co (died in Washington, DC) 3 BARNARD, Mrs. Emma L. - Dodge Co (died in CA) 3 BADER, Christopher - Otoe Co 3 Death of Frank Helvey - Otoe Co 3 News Clip - HALFMANN's house torn down at Cook, Johnson Co 3 NE Public Schools in 1860-61 4 Anniversary of the "Stone Church" at Febing, Nemaha Co 4 News Clips - L.H. BADGER of Fillmore Co; Adams County Old Settlers Assoc.; arrowhead Holt County's First Safe 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NEBRASKA HISTORY CHARLES McDONALD, NONAGENARIAN AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS PIONEER. ------------------------------------ On October 25, Charles McDonald Published Monthly by the Nebraska celebrated his ninety-second State Historical Society birthday, at his home in North ------------------------------------ Platte. He was born in Morristown, Editor, ADDISON E. SHELDON Tennessee; came to Nebraska in Associate Editors 1855; first stopped briefly at the The Staffs of the Nebraska State site of Peru and then at Nebraska Historical Society and City; next, in the fall of the same Legislative Reference Bureau year, settled in the vicinity of ------------------------------------ the subsequent site of Pawnee City; Subscription $2.00 Per Year two years later moved again, to ------------------------------------ Salem, Richardson county; in q All sustaining members of the December, 1859, went to Cottonwood Nebraska State Historical Springs. where he established his Society receive Nebraska famous road ranch; in 1872 moved History without further payment. finally to North Platte; there he q Entered as second class mail was engaged in mercantile business matter, under act of July 16, from 1873 to 1899; in 1878 1894, at Lincoln, Nebraska, April established the "Bank of Charles 2, 1918. McDonald" which he conducted with ------------------------------------ the general store until 1899; since VOLUME that time has given exclusive I. NOVEMBER, 1918 NUMBER 7 attention to his bank; while he ------------------------------------ lived in Pawnee county was a member of the House of Representatives of SECRETARY SHELDON IN EUROPE. the second Legislative Assembly. Addition E. Sheldon, secretary His son, W. H. McDonald. is said to of the Historical Society, is now be the first white child born in in France, his mission being to Lincoln county; his grandson, study on the western front the part Charles M. Reynolds of Casaba, Nebraska is taking in the war. Mr. married Miss Irene Neville, sister Sheldon went as a press of Governor Neville. representative, which gives him the ------- opportunity to get near the front Two skeletons were found by lines. He sailed from New York on workmen who were digging a hole for October 4, landing at Liverpool a gasoline tank at Alliance on October 18 and reaching France October 24. The bones were found October 22. A number of journalists about six feet underground, lying were on board the boat going to side by side, their heads toward England, and an organization was the northeast. No remains of a there formed and a paper issued to coffin were found, and so it is which Mr. Sheldon was one of the thought that they died before that contributors. It was his intention part of the country was settled, when he left Lincoln to return their bodies lying undiscovered before the legislature convenes in until they were covered up by the January. shifting sand. In each of the upper ------- jawbones there was a very large tooth still sound. FATHER CHRISTIAN HOECKEN. ------- Rev. Michael A. Shine explains Mrs. William Henry Bruss of that "Father Hogins," named as Fullerton is one of triplets, who payee in the draft made by Peter R. will have reached the age of Sarpy, a copy of which was printed seventy- nine years next December, in the October number of Nebraska and who are perhaps the oldest History, was Rev. Christian triplet sisters in the world. The Hoecken, a Roman Catholic other sisters are Mrs. Sara. Jane missionary to Indians. Some account Fisher of Huntington, Indiana, and of Father Hoecken's heroic care of Mrs. Elizabeth Little Beck of Lena, passengers on the steamboat St. in the same state. All of them have Ange who were stricken by cholera recently become widows. Two of the on the voyage from St. Louis to husbands were veterans of the civil Fort Union, in 1851, is given at war. Mr. and Mrs. Bruss settled in page 102 of volume I of the History Nebraska in 1889. Mr. Bruss died of Nebraska. Father Hoecken himself oil the 13th of last October. (The died of the epidemic when the boat Fullerton Post.) had reached a point near the mouth ------- of the Little Sioux River where, on The Bayard Transcript observed the evening of June 19, he was the thirty-first anniversary of its temporarily buried, "with all the beginning on November 1. Commenting ceremonies of the church," as on the incident R. A. Wisner, the Father De Smet relates. On the publisher, says: "In looking back boat's return the coffin was over the course which marks the exhumed and carried to Florissant path from its humble beginning in a for final interment. This village, sod house in the western part of founded near the middle of the this city, up to the present time, eighteenth century, is situated there is it feeling of satisfaction about sixteen mires in a on the part of the present northwesterly direction from St. publisher that it has in some Louis and three miles south of the measure at least filled the sphere Missouri river. in life for which it was intended . ------- . . . . Perhaps no one outside of those interested have realized or ORIGINAL OWNER OF GIBSON TOWN SITE could realize what the struggle was DIES. to keep a publication going in Mrs. Jane Thorp Gilmore, who was Bayard in an early day. At least it intimately associated with pioneer was not a boy's job." The life in Nebraska, died on November Transcript has now an up-to-date 1 at her home in Gibbon. The Gibbon plant for a country town, including Reporter's story of this a Model C intertype which cost interesting woman's life is in part $3,700. as follows: "She was a sister of ------- John Thorp, founder of the Soldiers Captain Frederick A. Williams, Free Homestead Colony which made an old time printer of Omaha who settlement at Gibbon Siding, came west in the fifties, has been Buffalo county, in April, 1871. Mr. reunited to his wife after a and Mrs. George Gilmore with their separation of forty years. Captain three children moved from Ohio to Williams had gone east on a Nebraska in an emigrant car all of business trip a few years after the their household goods and a team of marriage and was reported among the horses. In a box car on the siding dead following a fire which at Gibbon they furnished meals for destroyed a hotel in which he was a transients and visitors until their guest. But though Williams escaped hotel building was completed. In a death he was badly burned and was box car a the Gibbon siding they taken to a hospital where he was entertained at dinner officers from confined a long time. After his Fort McPherson, located near the recovery he tried in vain to find present city of North Platte, who his girl bride. Only a few months came in a friendly way to call on ago Mrs. Williams applied for a the members of the colony just pension, and she asked Congressman arrived. Accompanying the officers Lubeck to assist her in obtaining were Sergeant Michael Coady, then it. As a result of the proceeding in charge of the few soldiers the bride and groom of forty-five remaining at Fort Kearny, and also years ago were brought. together William Cody (Buffalo Bill), then a and are living happily in their scout and hunter, stationed at Fort home in Omaha. Captain Williams is McPherson. now eighty-three years old and his "Mrs. Gilmore was part, owner of wife is a few years younger, says the original town site of Gibbon the World Herald. and the first deeds given for lots ------- in the village contained a F. X. DeLone, one of the provision that no intoxicating pioneers of Omaha, celebrated his liquors should be kept for sale." eighty-fifth birthday anniversary on October 23. The World-Herald says of the event: "Mr. DeLone came to Omaha in 1856, and he and three other men lived for a time in a little shanty where the municipal auditorium now stands. Mr. DeLone was active in business here for many years. At one time he owned the ground now occupied by the Conant hotel. He gave it away. In 1891 he built the DeLone hotel at Fourteenth street and Capitol aveue, the building now occuipied by Lister hospital. When the building was erected DeLone told his friends that whoever tore it down would have to dynamite it. This remark was recalled recently when workmen attempted to cut a doorway through the basement wall. The work which ordinarily would require but a few hours, took several days. It is said to be the best constructed building erected in Omaha up to that time." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The French Settlement at Julian stories were told and songs sung. The address of welcome was by Mr. [Image] C. L. Mesnet, speaking both in English and French, with responses (handwritten note: See C 1560) by several of the others. Jean Marie Bize and Louise Bise, The principal feature of the above; Laurent Bernard, below - all day, perhaps, was the taking of of Julian, Nebraska. moving pictures of the assemblage at the grove, of the gathering at Mr. and Mrs. Bernard were the the railroad station to speed to first settlers at Julian. Julien the war some French boys, and of Bahuaud came a year or two after the parade of the Home Guard. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, and then came This picnic was a good start on Mr. and Mrs. Jean Lavigne and next what may later develop into a state Mr. and Mrs. Jean Marie Bize. association of French people and ---------- their descendants. For this purpose a partial list of the early The movement of French people settlers and their children was into the Nebraska country began made, as follows: before the territory was opened for Jules and Mary Bernard; Blanch, settlement, the first men coming Rozelle, Laurent, Lenora.. from France being trappers, or Lucian and Theresa Bernard; Indian traders. For a hundred years Alice, Richard. or more they had roamed over this Calixte L. and Millis Mesnet. region, and to them it owes many Frantz and- Marietta Gamboni; geographic names. Franky, Calixte. When the territory was opened to Mrs. Louise Bize, mother; Paul white settlers there were already and Blanche Bize; Paul, David, small colonies of French people at Louise. Rulo, Bellevue and along the Mrs. Marchand, mother; Henry and Missouri and Niobrara rivers. They Marie Lavige; Albert, Pierre, were closely associated with the Blanche, Henri, Rose, Alice, Indian tribes and commonly took Catherine, Paul, George. Indian wives. The genuine French Emile and Laura Marchand; settlers came in the late fifties, Raymond, Malvin, Frederic, Marie. and for ten or fifteen years George and Louise Chavez; Emma, thereafter. One of the most Louis, Stella. important of their settlements was Fred and Louise Bourlier; Laura, at and in the vicinity of the Blanche, Clifton, Ivan, Leston. present village of Julian, a Fremont and Emma Jodry; Amber, station on the Missouri Pacific Harold, Mildred. railroad. Julian Bahuaud was among Mrs. Catherine Vernier; Sophia, the first settlers, and the new Jane, May Beason. town which was established on the J. M. and Louisa Burress. railroad was named for him. It is James and Flora Bourlier; said that the railroad company Sidney, Floyd. called the station Julian because James, (Sr.) and Laura Bourlier. they could not pronounce the Fred and Liza Bourlier; James, surname of the most prominent EIsa, John, Blanche, Helen, Nellie. settler. John and Susie Bourlier; Donna, The rich land in that vicinity Lysle. attracted thrifty people from Mrs. Mellie Bourlier. France until about forty families Fred , Frank and Armand Barbier. had settled there. They were Emile Berlet and wife; Amelie, educated and intelligent. For a Alice, Blanche, Irma. time their trading places were Fred and Amalie Marchand; Glenrock, Brock, Peru, and Alphonze, Emma, Charles, Lea, Brownville. When the Missouri Louise, Lilly, Laura, Mary, George, Pacific railroad came through the Rose, Jules, Blanche. county with two branches, Julian Peter Berlet and wife; Fred, was the French center though there Lucile, Mina, Emma, Victoria, were a goodly number at Brock. They Elois. quickly acquired the American Fred and Jennie Donze; Dot, spirit, and while the French Fred. language was kept up in the homes, Fred and Vina Kiechel; Walter, English was spoken elsewhere. Only Addie, Raymond, Doane. two or three of their whole number Frank and Mary Gilbert; Gus, failed to acquire the English Millie. language These were the older women Mrs. Muster and Mrs. Besancon, who lacked the practise in speech This list is incomplete, being which contact with people of other largely made up from families nationalities would have given attending the picnic. Messrs. C. L. them. All of the younger generation Mesnet and Paul Bize expect to were educated in English in the complete the roll of all the living schools and in French at home, and persons who have been connected their home environment gave them with the Nemaha county colony, so the polite demeanor peculiar to the that a comprehensive history of the French people. The immigration of settlement may be written. these settlers to Nemaha county was TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS not a sectarian movement. The colonists were about equally The following interesting Catholics and protestants. records are copied from inscriptons On May 20, 1918, the French on monuments in the Catholic and people of Nemaha county held a protestant cemeteries, picnic and celebration, calling respectively: together all those who had remained CATHOLIC CEMETERY. in the original colony, as well as Bahuaud, Julian Priez vous le those who had gone elsewhare in Born 1827 Repos de son later years. A large number ame gathered for this celebration, Died 1899 Lavigue Jean which consisted at a basket picnic Jacques and, then a meeting in a grove in Bize, Jean Marie ne le Julian where Juillet 1820 Born in Nantes, decede le France 25 Janvier 1808 March, 30, 1835 40 ans d'Amerique Died November 30, Native de 1894 France Bernard, Laurent Master, Michel Died July 21, Born Sept, 1888 29, 1834 At 71 years, 11 Died Apr. months, 14 days 26 1898 Bernard, Annie E. Michon Willie Daughter of Born Aug Julian and May 22, 1890 Born April 30, Died Jan. 1907 23, 1891 Died September Breull, John 13, 1909 A. Anville Caliste Born July Isidore 29, 1832 Born April 4, Died Feb. 1916 13, 1894 Died September Breull, 11, 1916 Albert Bazin, Jean Felix Born July 3, 1892 Ne a Ste-Remi-Savole, Died Aug. France 2, 1893 le 18 December, Marconnit, 1847 John F. decede a Julian, Son Nebr. of le 9 Mars 1907 Fred and Mary Michel Marie M. Died April Adelaide 29, 1885 Born in Suisse Burger, Col. Peter Aug. 23, 1830 Born In Died June 22, Loraine, 1893 France Grivel Joseph May 15, 1835 Ne Le 7 Avril Died April 17, 1903 Decede le 6 Novembere May, wife of 1914 Peter Burger Michon Pauline H. Died Feb. 16, 1893 Ne Paris, France Age le 15 October 62 yrs, 1 1872 mo, 15 days. decede 24 October 1911 PROTESTANT CEMETERY. Bourlier, Augusta Raymond, son of Oct. 29, 1862 H. A. & N. L. July 22, 1911 Lavigne Bourlier, William Barber, Peter Nov. 15, 1884 Mar. 14, 1876 Aug. 30 1911 Sept. 8, 1905 Bourlier, Irvin L. Barber, Margaret Oct. 16, 1908 Feb. 1835 Sept. 3, 1910 June 12, 1902 Coulon, Alphonse Barber, G. F. Dec. 25, 1825 Dec. 25, 1829 Jan. 30, 1911 Mar. 25, 1900 Coulin, Alphonse Bourlier, James Oct. 6, 1812 Nov. 30, 1820 Coulon, George F. July 25, 1889 May 24, 1861 Bourlier, Mary Dec. 20, 1916 Dec. 17, 1820 Repose le corps de Dec. 10, 1891 Marchaud, Pierre Mosler, M. Victoria decede Oct. June 15,1878 11,1864 Jule, fils de Feb. 21, 1896 Auguste et Emile Quante, David Claire, 1908-1917 decede le 8 Dec. Quante, 1887 Rosetta, Sattler, Caroline 1819-1910 1821-1906 ------- Daniel Carre took a homestead near Beatrice in 1867 and has lived there ever since. On November 11 there was a reunion of the relatives at the old Carre home to celebrate the eighty-fourth anniversary of his birthday. ------- Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Cherry of Weeping Water celebrated the half century anniversary of their marriage on September 30. Mr. Cherry came to Nebraska in 1866 and Mrs. Cherry in 1854. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Passing of the Nebraska Pioneer Mrs. Emma L. Barnard died in Los Angeles, California, late in Following is a record of the October, nearly eighty-four years deaths since September 2 of old; in 1856 was married to Edwin pioneers who settled in Nebraska H. Barnard at Canajoharie, N. Y., not later than the year 1867: her birthplace. In August, 1856, John Kennedy, a resident of Mr. Barnard surveyed the town site Nebraska City for fifty-two years, of Fremont which he and John A. born in Donegal county, Ulster Koontz had just appropriated as a province, Ireland, in 1844. died claim. He was born in Kirkland, N. September 22; came first to Y., in 1830. The Barnard's lived in Pennsylvania; in 1866, with his Fremont more than fifty years. brother James, settled in Nebraska (Fremont Evening Tribune, October City; was never married. (The News, '29.) (Nebraska City), September 23.) Christopher Bader, born in Ohio M. J. Burns, Peru, born at in 1863, died October 29 at Birmingham, Iowa, March 15, 1844, Nebraska. City, where he came when died September 18. In 1862 he was a he was a small boy. (The Daily freighter from Nebraska City to Nebraska Press, October 30.) Denver. (The Peru Pointer, ------- September 20.) Alfred P. Hoskins of Fremont, Death of Frank Helvey born in Hamilton, Ontario, April 17, 1846, died September 22; came [Image] to Omaha in 1866 and to Fremont four years later, where he engaged in banking; in 1884 went back to FRANK HELVEY. Omaha where he became interested with his cousins, Joseph Millard Frank Helvey, born in Huntington and Ezra Millard, organizers of the county, Indiana, July 7, 1841, died Commercial National Bank; afterward in Fairbury, July 4, 1918, having went into the lumber business in lived in Nebraska continuously Chicago and returned to Fremont in since 1849. In 1846 Joel Helvey, 1909. (Fremont Evening Tribune, with his family, comprising his September 23.) wife and six children, started George Gawthorne, born in west. They first stopped at old England in 1834, died September 22 Fort Kearny, but Nebraska at that at his daughter's home in time was not open to white Whitesboro, Texas; came to Nebraska settlement so they soon moved into in the early fifties, where he a log cabin on the opposite side of lived until about two years ago. the Missouri River. About three (The News, (Nebraska City), years later the Helvey family September 24.) obtained permission of the William Henry Banning, born in caretaker of the remaining property New London, Iowa, in 1837, died of the abandoned fort to settle in September 25; came to Nebraska City the Nebraska country providing they in 1857, where he had ever since would take their chances with the lived. (The News, September 25.) Indians. Thereupon, Mr. Helvey and William Barnich, eighty-one his three sons built a ferry boat years old, born in Germany, died in which they profitably carried September 25; a resident of Omaha emigrants to Pike's Peak across the since 1867; for forty years Missouri River, at Table Creek, in employed in the Union Pacific 1849 and 1850. On October 10, 1853, railroad shops. (The Omaha Daily Joel Helvey was judge of an Bee, September 25.) election at Table Creek, which came Mrs. Mary Tex, born in Luxemburg to be called Nebraska City the next in 1847, died in Papillion year, for a provisional delegate to September 14; came to America in Congress, whose mission was to aid 1855; lived a few years in Dubuque, in the passage of the pending bill Iowa; then moved to Omaha: a to organize the territory of resident of Sarpy county since Nebraska. Similar elections were 1872. (The Gretna Breeze, September held at other places on the eastern 27.) border of the Nebraska country, on Henry P. Coolidge of Columbus, October 11, but, probably by born in Tazewell county, Illinois, mistake, the election at Table October 6, 1835, died September 27; Creek was held October 10. These when a boy came with his parents to were not legal elections, and Omaha where the family resided neither of the two delegates chosen several years; in October, 1865, he was recognized by the Congress, became private secretary of D. H. though both went to Washington with Wheeler, Pawnee Indian agent at the purpose stated. Genoa. and conducted a tin shop at In April, 1859, the Helvey the same time; moved with his family started for Pike's Peak, but family to Columbus in 1868, where hearing discouraging reports from he lived until his death. (The returning gold seekers they stopped Columbus Telegram, October 4.) on May 25 at Little Sandy and built James Thomas, born in Ohio in a ranch house where the Oregon 1824, died in Lincoln. September Trail crossed that creek. Frank 27, 1918, at the home of his Helvey, then eighteen years old, daughter, Mrs. Mary Gould; came to engaged in freighting across the Nebraska with his family in 1885, plains. He also drove the Overland where he was a farmer until he was Stage and was a substitute Pony past eighty years of age. His first Express rider. Later he became a vote for a president was cast in successful farmer and stock raiser. 1848, for Zachary Taylor. For many years his bible, Albert Noyes, born at Portland, presented to him by Alexander Maine, July 18, 1830, died Majors of Russell, Majors and September 27; came to Nebraska in Waddell, the famous freighters, was 1863, settling at St. Deroin, where on exhibition in the rooms of the he lived to the time of his death. State Historical Society. (Nemaha County Herald, October 4.) P. S. Hall came to Nebraska in September 21, 1864, Mr. Helvey 1856; died at his home in Rock was married in Beatrice to Eleanor Bluffs early in October, aged Plummer of Swan Creek, and ten eighty- eight years. (The Lincoln children were born to them. Mrs. Daily Star, October 12.) Helvey died July 16, 1910. Miss Agnes McAusland, born in ------- Scotland, died October 6 at Omaha, where she had lived for fifty-eight The Cook Weekly Courier relates years, aged eighty-three years. that Martin Halfmann's house, (The Omaha Daily News, October 7.) situated two and a half miles north John Martin Osborn, born in of the town, was torn down in Indiana in 1843, died October 10 at September. It was built by at Mr. Gridley, California; came to Ashton in the late sixties. Its Nebraska in 1867 and settled on a original location was near a farm near Pawnee City; a member of cottonwood tree famous for its the state senate from his district enormous size. in the seventeenth legislature, twenty-fifth session, 1897. (The Pawnee Chief, October 18.) Nicholas Rix, born in Schleswig, Germany, 1830, died at Fort Calhoun, October 10; came to America in 1852, landing at New Orleans; went thence by steamboat to Camanche (Clinton county), Iowa, where he worked as a carpenter; the next year, with his wife, crossed the state of Iowa, with two yoke of oxen, to Omaha; soon after settled on a homestead which included the site of Fort Atkinson, one mile west of the present city park of Fort Calhoun. (Fort Calhoun Chronicle, October 17.) Mrs. Bertha Krueger, born in Germany in 1843, died October 17 at Germantown; came to Nebraska in 1865. (Blue Valley Blade, October 23.) John Blankenship, born in Illinois, died October 19 at Peru, aged sixty-three years; when two years old came with his parents to Peru where he had lived ever since. (Nemaha County Herald, October 25.) Henry W. Smith, born in Germany in 1844: died at Burkett, Nebraska, October 19; came to America in 1847 and to Nebraska in 1865; homesteaded near Richland, Nebraska. (The Colfax County Press, October 26.) Mrs. Albert Thies, born in Denmark in 1848, died at her home in Nebraska City, October 23; had been a resident of Otoe county since 1857. (The Nebraska Daily Press. October 24.) Mrs. Louisa Stoll, born two miles north of Nehawka in 1859, died October 23; was mother of twelve children. (The Nehawka News, October 31.) Mrs. Calvin G. Taber died October 24 near Inavale; settled on a homestead two miles northwest of Weeping Water in 1866. (Weeping Water Republican, October 31.) Hugh Aird, born in New York in 1838, died at Bruning, Nebraska, in October; came to Nebraska City in 1864. (The News, (Nebraska City), October 26.) Lewis S. Reed died in Washington, D. C., October 27, aged seventy-one years; came to Omaha in 1863; was a member of the House of Representatives of the eighth legislature, which impeached Governor Butler; was for twenty years president of the Equitable Trust Company, and vice president of the Nebraska National Bank in Omaha. (The Omaha Daily News, October 28.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nebraska, Public Schools in 1860-61 B. H. Groves, superintendent of made or authorized. However, an act schools at Falls City, Nebraska, of the sixth assembly, approved has recently presented to the January 1, 1860, cured the Nebraska, State Hostorical [sic] apparently inadvertent defect by Society a volume entitled "Second providing that "for present school Annual Report of the Commissioner purposes, and until by further of Common Schools of the Territory enactments, civil townships be of Nebraska to the Seventh formed in this territory what are Legislative Assembly, Session now known in the organized counties 1860-6l." as precincts, or that may hereafter The report shows that the be formed as such, shall be known as territorial school tax levied for townships." But civil townships were 1861 amounted to $6,352.23 and that not formed during the territorial children of school age in the period, and in the revision of the nineteen counties mentioned statutes in 1866 "precinct" was numbered 7,041. substituted for "township" in the A Chapter is devoted to cases adverted to. schoolhouses and grounds and to -------- school furniture. Plans for building and equipment for work Anniversary of the "Stone Church" compare well with some of the most approved methods of to-day. The On September 29, 1918, exercises volume also contains the school commemorating the dedication of the laws of the. territory. "Stone Church" fifty years ago took J. B. Weston, acting county place at Febing, a hamlet of about a clerk of Gage county and clerk of score people, in Benton precinct, the board of education in Beatrice Nemaha county, seven miles southwest township, reported that "There is of Auburn, where the church is now no regular schoolhouse in the situated. The Nemaha County Herald county. [A commodious building of September 27, 1918, contains a begun in 1858 was destroyed by fire history of the church in part as before it was completed.] Last follows: summer a school was taught in this "The Stone church, located in town in a vacant building fitted up Benton precinct, was dedicated for that purpose by Miss Frank C. September 27, 1868, the following Butler . . . the average attendance pastors officiating: Rev. P. W. was about twenty-five scolars. The Beckman, pastor loci, and the teacher's wages [defrayed by following visiting pastors: private subscription) were two Professor Grossman, of Stanberry dollars per week, I think, and Point, Iowa, of the German Iowa board. . . This is the sum total of Synod, and its president, Rev. all that has ever been perpetrated Ritter, of near Talmage; Rev. E. in the way of schools in this Duber, of Nebraska City, and Rev. county as yet." Nolte, of Langdon, Missouri. All of For comparison the following the pastors and all of the members figures are interesting: at that time have passed into the The amount of money actually beyond. expended in Nebraska for the year . ending July, 1917, was . . . . . . . . $11,921,859.05. Youth in Nebraska "The Stone church is still under twenty-one numbered 387,394; standing and is used as a parochial youth enrolled 292,362; average school. A new frame church in later daily attendance 219,246. years has been built to accommodate For the year ending July, 1918, the congregation. This is the Gage county actually expended congregation that in 1874 had a $320,894.17. The number of school church bell cast with a net weight age in the county was 9,092; of 1,526 pounds and made from French enrolled, 7,354; average daily cannon captured during the attendance, 5,462. Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. At Lancaster county was "hereby the time it arrived it was the erected into a separate county by largest bell in the state. an act of the first Legislative . Assembly passed March 6, 1855, but . . . . . . . . no county government was "Rev. F. W. Beckman, Jr., son of established until 1869. No mention the first pastor. has promised to be is made of Lancaster county in the present and preach. He was present report. fifty years ago, but was merely a William Egbert Harvey, of Otoe boy. Also Rev, J. H. Dirks, pastor county, was "territorial emeritus, of Columbus, has promised commissioner of common schools" at to be there. For thirty-seven years this time. He came from New York he was their pastor and spiritual state to Nebraska City in 1857. advisor and I think I am safe in Until he was elected commissioner saying that he has been longer with of schools, in 1859, he was engaged one congregation than any other in his profession of civil minister in any other denomination engineering. Like his. brother, in the state of Nebraska. Augustus Ford, the very prominent "Today, the 23d of September, editor and politician and who laid 1918, it is fifty years since the out and at least partly planned the writer, J. D. Kuhlman, D. Holthus, original town site of Lincoln, he wife and two children, crossed the had a talent for actuarial work, Missouri River at Nebraska City and and after holding the educational stepped from my native state onto office for six years, in 1866 he Nebraska soil." engaged in the life insurance The bell was cast in Detroit, business in Chicago. Two years Michigan, from the metal of a cannon later he, became actuary of the which had been shipped there from state insurance department of Germany. From Detroit the finished Missouri. His brother Augustus product was transported to succeeded him in this office about Brownville. In one of the varying two years afterward. accounts of the incident, the gift An act of the first Legislative of the gun was credited to "Wilhelm, Assembly, which convened January emperor of Germany," which in later 16, 1855, established the office of stories has been taken to mean librarian and superintendent of William II, late, and as we hope the public instruction. The fifth last kaiser. But he was then only a assembly, which convened on lad; so the reference must be to his September 21, 1858, established the grandfather, William I, who became separate office of territorial the first emperor of modern Germany commissioner of common schools; the three years before the birth of the seventh assembly, which convened on bell. Decenther 3, 1860, abolished this -------- office and imposed its duties upon L. H. Badger, who lives near the auditor of the territory; this Fairmont, Fillmore county, completed arrangement continued to the end of fifty years of continuous residence the territorial government. on the same farm, on October 20. His The use of the term "Beatrice father located the claim in 1868, township" requires explanation. By when Mr. Badger was twelve years of authority of the organic act the age, and the son has lived there, governor of the territory ever since. The Fairmont Chronicle designated the "places of voting" challenges anyone in Fillmore or at the first election and called York counties to show a like them precincts. Under an act of the continuous residence for half a first Legislative Assembly, county century. government was administered mainly -------- by the probate judge. The next year The annual meeting of the Adams the second assembly adopted the County Old Settlers Association was commission form of government, and held at Juniata on September 26. the act authorized "each board of with an attendance of more than one commissioners" to "divide the hundred. The newly elected officers county into convenient precincts . are: T. A. Shattuck, president; Ora . ."; but another act of the same Lamoreaux, vice president; Mrs. Lucy assembly authorized the governor of Partridge, secretary-treasurer. The the territory to designate the 1919 meeting will be held the last voting precincts for the third Thursday in September at Hastings, election, held in 1856. An act of -------- the fifth assembly, approved An Indian arrowhead was recenty November 4, 1868, provided "That found in the trunk of one of the hereafter each and every township trees at the Cosmopolitan hotel, at in any organized county in the Crete. territory shall compose but one school district . . ."; but the act of 1856. empowering county commissioners to establish precincts was still in force (Revised Statutes of the Territory of Nebraska, 1866, chapter XLI), and no such division as a township had been Holt County's First Safe [Image] The editor of this magazine has county were safely kept in the only seen many extraordinary devices safe vault and bank combined in the used upon the Nebraska frontier, county, described as follows: A but one of the most remarkable is cottonwood board 2 feet 4 inches the burglar proof safe which held long, 2 1/2 inches wide, receptacle the county funds of Holt county at 14 inches long, in which to keep the time of its organization. This the cash. This board was a part of safe just came into the possession the sheeting of a shingle roof of the State Historical Society and dwelling house. I exhibited the is now on exhibition at its rooms. board at the Holt county old It. will be the wonder of future settlers picnic yesterday as a generations of Nebraskans, for souvenir of forty years ago. Would there is nothing like it. The like to have this board kept as a following letter from J. T. Prouty, relic on display at the State the county treasurer who kept the Historical Society. Now if this is funds in the safe, written at considered in keeping with Spencer, Nebraska, July 16, 1918, historical supplies and worth while is self-explanatory: of frontier life in Nebraska I will "Forty years, ago the county send it if you so advise." treasurer's funds of Holt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Produced for NEGenWeb, 1998 by Ted & Carole Miller