NEBRASKA HISTORY AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS VOL III, NO. 4, OCT-DEC 1920 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 III, no. 4, 1920 (Original had no Table of Contents) News Items - Hoaxes, Delay of Issue, Articles by Mr. 1, Bengston 4 Additions to the NSHS Library 1 "American Catholics in the War" Records of the World War from office of adj. general in Washington (2 volumes) Monogram on Winnebago Indians of NE DAR collection of pioneer reminiscences Records of NE State Council of Defense & Women's State Council of Defense Private papers of Dr. L. J. Abbott Winnebago in Minnesota 1 Walker's Ranch, Adventure of (Kearney County 1873) 2 Hamilton County, Small Historic Spot in (Indian site) 2-3 Letter from Captain Lute North regarding Indian Treaties 3 Good Templars in Nebraska 4 Old Records of the First State Wide Temperance Organization Recently Acquired by Hist. Soc. -- 4 Beginnings of the Dry Movement Passing of Nebraska Pioneers 4 MOTHERSEAD, Benjamin Seward - Otoe Co. BAKER, Mrs. Jane Maria Artist - Gage & Saline Co.s WISE, Jonathan - Cass Co. SCHLECHT, Mrs. Anna - Cuming Co. HAAS, Augustus T. - Dakota Co. MILLER, Dr. George L. - Douglas Co. HILTON, Eugene - Merrick Co. McCAFFERTY, J. J. - Holt Co. HAZZARD, John K. - Douglas Co. BRORKINS, Mrs. Miko - Otoe Co. DODGE, Mrs. Elma E. Dickerson - Dodge Co. GILMORE, Mrs. Mary - Sarpy Co. LANGDON, Patrick J. - Sarpy Co. ALLEN, Frederick E. - Nemaha Co. MILLER, Mrs. Mary George (Mrs. T. H.) - Saline Co. BISBEE, Mrs. Helen M. (Rev. Charles G.) - Washington Co. McCRAY, Robert - Platte Co. FISCHER, Martha - Dodge Co. LAWRENCE, William W. - Nemaha Co. OLIVER, Ephriam - Buffalo Co. WILHITE, Mrs. Sarah E. (nee CROOK) - Richardson Co. NSHS Collections: New records related to early NE history of 1864-76 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NEBRASKA HISTORY marked "Secret." Directions for AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS advance, for signals, for liason ------------------------------------with other commands are brief, but Published Monthly by the Nebraska full. From these printed volumes of State Historical Society original records historians of the ------------------------------------future will obtain their most Editor, ADDISON E. SHELDON important material. Complete sets Associate Editors of these volumes in the Historical The Staffs of the Nebraska State Society library will be available Historical Society and for ex-service men and others Legislative Reference Bureau interested. ------------------------------------ ----------- Subscription $2.00 Per Year ------------------------------------ The Winnebago Indian tribe q All sustaining members of the lives half (nearly) in Nebraska - Nebraska State Historical the other half in Wisconsin. The Society receive Nebraska Nebraska half is the subject of a History without further payment. 60-page monograph written by Dr. q Entered as second class mail Margaret W. Koenig and published by matter, under act of July 16, this Society in August. Passing 1894, at Lincoln, Nebraska, April from the old life to the new is it 2, 1918. critical period in the life of any ------------------------------------primitive people. The survival of VOLUME OCTOBER-DECEMBER, the Winnebago, like that of the III. 1920 NUMBER 4 Pawnee is still in doubt. Dr. ------------------------------------Koenig's contribution has been highly commended in a number of A recent publication at the Iowa letters received by the Society. State Historical Society gives the ----------- history of the Cardiff Giant, a stone figure manufactured at Fort Index of continuous growth of Dodge, Iowa, and "discovered" at interest in history of the State is Cardiff, New York, in 1869. the flood of letters coming to the Thousands of dollars were made by editor's desk. Every day brings the exhibition of the stone figure numerous inquiries in regard to before the hoax was exposed. Which historical sites, events and reminds the editor of the persons in Nebraska. Many of these "Petrified Man" found buried in the letters call for extended research badlands about three miles from to answer. Chadron in the nineties. The story ----------- of this famous frontier scout will be given in it future issue of this The Daughters of the American magazine with exact facts and Revolution in Nebraska are making a verified dates. concentrated effort to gather ----------- pioneer reminiscences and county data to be placed with the Nebraska Delay has occurred in the issue Historical Society for reference. of this magazine. For this there is Already some valuable miscellaneous sincere regret. It should promptly manuscripts have been secured. appear as dated. Sometimes delay ----------- arises for need of time to verify and correct manuscript. With much All of the records of the current correspondence and limited Nebraska State Council of Defense office force it is difficult to and the papers of the Womens' meet all the calls. Our remorse is Council of Defense are in the mitigated only a little by noting keeping of the State Historical that some of the strong state Society. Photographs and other historical societies are farther records showing Nebraska's part in behind in their periodical issues the World War are constantly being than Nebraska. Most of the copy for added to our collections. the next two issues of this ----------- magazine is now in hand and they may be looked for at an early date. The Historical Society has ----------- recently acquired many of the private papers of Dr. L. J. Abbott Two articles in one issue of who was a member of the House of this quarterly by Mr. Bengston, one Representatives in 1867. These of our recent research members, is papers are full of interesting more than is usually accorded. Both material relating to the history of articles have been in type for some Nebraska. time and the change in form of the ----------- magazine seems to require publication now. And then both are The next issue of Nebraska good stories. History will appear in its new ----------- magazine form - convenient for reading and for binding into "American Catholics in the War" volumes of the same size as bound is the title of a new historical volumes issued by the Society. volume of 470 pages from the ----------- Catholic War Council; edited by Michael Williams, published by THE WINNEBAGO IN MINNESOTA MacMillan. The book says it is but Recently the superintendent the beginning of the record. It received a letter from Thomas will be found of great reference Hughes, an attorney at Mankato, value to students of religious Minnesota, asking for a copy of a movements as well as wars. A few photograph taken in New York City direct quotations illustrate this in 1866 showing the principal point: chiefs of the Winnebago tribe and "There were some 20,000 especially Chiefs Decorah and Catholics among approximately Little Hill. 2,700,000 inhabitants of the This photograph was taken at the thirteen colonies in 1776." instance of Robert W. Furnas, when "It is estimated that in the he was Indian agent for the Omaha United States in 1860 there were and Winnebago. He deposited a copy about 4,500,000 Catholics out of a with the Historical Society. It is total population of 31,500,000." one of the most valuable pictures "In the United States religious of that period, clear and distinct census of 1916 the total number of after all the years and showing church members in the country is Colonel Furnas surrounded by the set down at 41,926,854, the number group of chiefs who accompanied him of Catholics as approximately on his trip east. 16,000,000." Mr. Hughes' letter gives a "The value of Catholic Church glimpse of what is being done at property to given at $374,206,895, the old home of the Winnebago to which far exceeds that of any other preserve their tradition and church." memory. The Winnebago were the "The Catholic citizens of first Indians seen by the editor as America furnished for the World War a very small boy in Houston county, more than 30 per cent of the Minnesota. Mr. Hughes writes: enlisted fighting men in our army "The Winnebagos, as you know, and navy." had their reservation here in Blue "The department of historical Earth County, from 1855 to 1863, records at the National Catholic and our local society, as well as War Council has on file the names our state society, is much of more than 17,000 Catholic interested in their history. During soldiers, sailors and marines who this past winter, I have gathered a were killed or died under the large quantity of material colors, with more than 2000 pertaining to the tribe. I have parishes still to be heard from. several dozen letters from Oliver The total number of American dead LaMere and Dr. N. W. Jipson of as given by the war department is Chicago, who is writing a history 126,656." of the Winnebago tribe. Our local ----------- society have had a map made of the old reservation here, which covered Upon the editor's desk lie two a strip of land twenty-five miles volumes of Records of the World long and thirteen miles wide and we War, fresh from the office at the have been relocating the sites of adjutant general at Washington. the various villages, which the These are Field Orders of the Fifth Winnebagos occupied while here, Division and of the Second Army with the names of the chiefs of Corps with maps and diagrams. They each. We have also gathered a few are thin volumes of less than 200 pictures and quite a good deal of pages each, but packed with material pertaining to the history thrilling interest. Their contents of the tribe while here and cover the period overseas from May obtained biographies, as far as 1918 to February 1919. Most of the possible, of the most prominent orders are chiefs. I have found the study very interesting. Glad to know that your early home was here in southern Minnesota, and also of your interest in Winnebago history. Of course I have also been greatly interested in the Sioux, who were the aborigines, as you know, of the southern half of our state." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Adventure of Walker's Ranch When the team started again they B. E. Bengston, Funk, Nebraska. both traveled in the same direction - southwest towards Walker's Ranch. About seven miles south of Ball's plan was to get in from Axtell, Kearney county, Nebraska, the south ahead of the others. To are the tumble-down buildings of do this he left the trail and Walker's Ranch. The decaying struck-out across the prairie in a structures are all that is left of westerly direction, leaving the one of the interesting landmarks of others to follow about a half mile the early days. The walls are gray behind. A few miles to the west he from exposure to sun and rain and struck the "Franklin Trail" which probably have never known paint in crossed the mail trail in a hollow any form. For many years the ranch south of Walker's Ranch. Here Ball has undergone but slight changes turned and drove into the station and if any of the old timers who from the south. once frequented the place should As soon as he pulled up he again chance thither he would no jumped out in an unconcerned manner doubt find much that would remind and began unhitching his horses as him of olden times. There is the if he intended to stay over night. same house, a low frame affair, the Smith saw him and sent his partner same stable and various other out to reconnoiter. Ball engaged buildings with a wide street him in conversation, inquiring between them running nearly about everyday matters, such as northeast and southwest. feed for his horses, accommodation David B. Ball, the present for himself and companion, etc. owner, has in one way or another Smith knew Ball well. He also been connected with the place ever knew that he was deputy U. S. since the beginning. In 1870 Ball marshal, but he did not expect held a contract to carry the U. S. trouble from him. His crime was mail from an adobe town on the murder and he was looking for the Platte River to the Republican county authorities. Valley. Carrying the mail about a Smith's partner, evidently year he surrendered his contract satisfied that they had nothing to and it was let to Charles Walker fear from Ball and his man, went who put up buildings and into the house and in a short time established a station near the west came back accompanied by Smith. side of Kearney county. This Meanwhile, Ball had numerous location has ever since been known errands out to his buggy, getting as Walker's Ranch. halters, straps, robes and other In the beginning of the year articles. But this was merely 1873 Walker became ill and went to subterfuge. He was carefully noting Omaha for treatment. Instead of how near the deputy sheriff and his recovering his health he became posse were. They had left the trail worse and died in the latter part a short distance south of the ranch of February. A few days afterwards and being behind the buildings, when it became known that Walker Smith had not seen them. As they had died a man by the name at Smith drove in between two of the houses with a companion nicknamed Polly of the ranch, Smith turned in arrived at the ranch. They put up a surprise and Ball, who had edged up building and established themselves to him suddenly, grasped his arms claiming they had bought Walker's from behind and held on for "dear relinquishment. This they had not life," as he afterwards said. done. They had come with the avowed Butler, at the same time, covered purpose of "jumping the claim" and Smith's companion with his rifle. stealing the property. The sheriff's posse on seeing How two such statements in sense Butler with his gun up sprang diametrically opposed to each other forward to his side and also could be reconciled. we at this leveled their guns at the trembling time cannot comprehend. But this is follow, who was too much surprised beside the story: the standard of and frightened to move out of the conduct in the "wild and wooly spot. West" was different from that in Ball on the other hand was the more conventional east. With having a desperate struggle with Indians still at large on the his man. "Butler! Butler!" he prairies, the occasional visit of called. "Come here and put the the James gang of train and bank handcuffs on this follow. I can't robbers, the individual road agent, hold him much longer!" To put the cattle rustler and the horse handcuffs on that desperate thief this portion at the prairie struggling man who knew it meant was still within the bounds of the his life to be captured was no easy wild west. To this the old matter. The handcuffs were in the graveyard south of Lowell, where inside pocket of Ball's coat and it those who "died with their boots was a hard matter to get them out, on" in Valley City on the Platte, so close and hard did he hold his is sufficient evidence. prisoner. After Smith's advent the place After a while when the three men became the rendezvous of border had pranced around in the snow had ruffians and toughs of all degrees. gotten their clothing more or less Gambling, the curse of the world, torn the handcuffs were produced was the pastime most indulged in, and clasped on the kicking, and one night during a drunken snarling and biting man who was now brawl pandemonium turned itself more a wild beast than a human loose; bowie knives and revolvers being. suddenly flashed over the card The sun was nearly down and table. Shots rang out, deafening after having had supper, Ball within the four walls, and curses detailed a guard to stay at the filled the air. When the ranch for the purpose of looking disturbance ended and the noise had after the interest of Walker's quieted down it was found that widow. He then started with his Polly lay on the floor dead, struck prisoners for Lowell, where, down, by a bullet from Smith's gun, arriving late at night, he had them Fagan and others had received locked up. wounds from pistol bullets or The facilities for keeping knives, but none other was killed. prisoners not being the best at The next day a number of that time, in Lowell, Smith broke freighters who had stopped at the jail and has never been heard at ranch drove into Lowell, the county since. The other man was brought to seat at Kearney county, with the trial, but the case against him not news of the killing. The deputy being very good he got off with a sheriff, on getting the particulars sentence of three years in the of the crime, organized a posse for penitentiary. the purpose at bringing the ----------- murderers in. It was evident that A Small Historic Spot in Hamilton he expected to get a fight out of County it as he took with him two surgeons B. E. Bengston, Funk, Nebraska and four or five other men. There was deep snow on the ground, the For a small spot, sections 9, air was crisp and the wagon wheels 10, 15 and 16 in Bluffs precinct, creaked in their tracks as the Hamilton county, may well, as posse drove out and disappeared historic ground, claim a brief over the sandhills to the south. notice. The descent of the They. were "armed to the teeth' and table-land and over the bluffs into no one in Lowell doubted their the Platte River valley is here ability to bring their man in dead short and the river is only a or alive. little more than a mile away. Shortly, after their departure This side of the valley consists David B. Ball arrived in town. He of a bench of fertile land had recently been appointed deputy terminating at an ancient river U. S. marshal, and as soon as he bank about eight feet high, and the had been enlightened in the matter bottom which is flat and sandy, he swore out a warrant for the during seasons of heavy rainfall or arrest of Smith and his partner at when the river is high contains the card table for interfering with numerous ponds and bayous of the U. S. mail. Armed with this and stagnant water. accompanied by only one man, T. S. From the highest bluff, which is Butler of Riverton, he took the about 125 foot above the river, the trail after the deputy sheriff. view is grand. A wide expanse of Coming to a point about eight miles level land, reaching the bluffs on northeast of the ranch he met the the other side stretches out to the posse. They were coming back for east and west until it meets the reenforcements not being willing to horizon. In this direction lies the attack the place they had been told river. Like a broad band of silver was now prepared for a siege. it divides and subdivides and again Furthermore, Smith had sent word unites as it embraces the numerous that he would not be taken alive. islands that lie as gems in its Ball urged the posse to return, course. Beyond the river a saying that their man would scintillating gleam of reflected certainly make an attempt to escape sunlight from a window reveals the in the night. No amount of urging location of a farmhouse. A railroad however was at any avail and the train is moving like at snake sheriff said, "Ball, I'll turn this across the plain. It is the Union job over to you." "I'll take it," Pacific express, and the distance instantly replied Ball, "and I makes its movements seem slow. Even appoint you and your posse my this catches the sun's rays and deputies.'' flashes of light are tremblingly "Oh, that will never do," was shot from its sides as it rocks on the reply. "If we go it will be as the rails. On this side of the a separate posse." river an automobile darts out from "Very well," said Ball, "but I beyond a grove, swings around a need your help and if you come with hill and disappears as quickly as me I'll guarantee to bring you it came. A farmer is seen driving a through with whole skins." He then five-horse team drawing a made known his plan and when they gang-plow, and the song of a mowing heard it they declared it a capital machine is heard on the hillside. plan and that it would succeed. All this betokens life and action, bustle and toil. But it is a life covering death; and action that supersedes inaction; the past sleeps here; traces of a time that has sped and a race that has gone, while now only faintly discernible, can still be found. Following the ancient river bank across sections 8 and 10 are the tracks of the freighting trail which is here about one hundred ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ yards wide. Side by side, they lie farmplace had been built up where bearing mute witness of the perils that was located. On coming to the of the passage. An Indian village site of the Old Indian village I was located here and in fear of found a cornfield there and of the ambush or savage treachery the plum grove only one solitary tree wagons of each train were driven was left. This was a small one and abreast instead of in single file stood under the wire in the line as otherwise was the custom. The fence where the cultivator could site of the Indian village is in not reach it. the angle formed by the section That this territory had been the line on the east side of section 9, feeding ground of the buffalo the and the ancient river bank. countless number of skeletons of In 1877 the writer of this these bovines scattered over the article being attracted to the spot prairie in the early days is ample by a patch of wild plum trees saw proof. After a prairie fire they this site for the first time. A could be seen everywhere - a number of earthen rings irregularly crumbling skull here and a pile of distributed indicated the location broken bones there. But very few of the tepees. These rings were good horns were to be found on open on one side and this opening these skulls in the late seventies was probably where the door was and those that could be found were located. The rings varied in size checked from exposure to fire, and from eight feet to about sixteen weather and in most instances were feet across and the basin-like peeling and parting in the depressions within them were one laminations. Another proof of the foot deep. A careful search in all buffalo was the path which they had of the rings disclosed nothing more used in going to water. It crossed than the badly rusted blade of a section 16 near its west side. The butcher knife and a small potsherd. buffalo path was a single trail The handle of the knife was gone about 8 inches deep and must have and the cutting edge dented almost been traveled by great numbers of like the toothed edge of a saw. In animals before it had been worn to spite of the ruined condition of such depth. The village of the relic it could plainly be seen Hordville is now located where this that it was not of savage design. path crossed section 21. Main It had no doubt been acquired street passes diagonally over the through barter with the white man. ancient trail. Articles of savage workmanship were ----------- found a mile to the southeast on Letter from Captain Lute North the table-land, west of a deep ------- ravine and near the south side of the northeast quarter of section Captain Lute M. North of 16, several pieces of brown flint Columbus, is one of the few were picked up. The fact that they survivors of the old battle days on had been chipped at the edges the Nebraska plains. He is one of proved them to be implements of the still fewer pioneers having some sort. One of these is the close acquaintance with that most point of a spearhead. It has one of picturesque and interesting figure its edges chipped to a short bevel in early Nebraska history - the indicating that it is of Pawnee Pawnee Indian. Quietly living in manufacture. Another spear point his pleasant home at Columbus, found is simply a rude wedge of Captain North reads with eager stone. This also has a short bevel interest everything relating to chipped on one of its edges. A that early period so familiar to queer little piece which fits in him. A recent correspondence with the crook of the finger proves to him refers to a matter of great be a skinning knife. A larger piece importance in western history - which is curved and fits in the what is called the Great Sioux grip of the hand is a scraper used Treaty of 1868: in tanning the hides of the animals which the Indians killed. This Columbus, Nebr., June 30th, 1921. location is designated for convenience as "The Place of Dear Mr. Sheldon: Flints." An arrowhead of white I am enclosing a clipping from flint and which had no short bevel our paper the Daily News and would was discovered in the bottom of the like to ask you what treaty was long ravine on the west side of made with the Indians in April, this section, proving that other 1867, and where. Indians besides Pawnees, had hunted I was camped at the end of the here in ancient times. track (the U. P.) which was about The "Place of Flints" showed no where Ogallala is now the latter signs of having been the location part of April or the fore part of of a village, although it may have May with my company of Pawnee been a summer camp. The fact that a Scouts. At that time Spotted Tail prairie fire had recently passed with his band (the Brute Sioux) was over the ground was responsible for camped on the North Platte a few the finding of the flints. After miles above where North Platte city the wind had swept away the soot now stands, but I don't remember of and ashes the stones could plainly any treaty with them at that time. be seen, especially as the soil is But later in the summer, perhaps in naturally free of pebbles or stone August or September there was a chips. commission appointed composed of On the southwest quarter of this Generals Sherman, Harney, Terry, section were a number of grass Augur and Sanborn, N. B. Taylor, rings of the same size and commissioner of Indian affairs, arrangement as the earthen rings of Colonel Tappan and Senator the Indian village. They were on Henderson. The chiefs at the the east side of the ravine which council wore Spotted Tail, here comes to an end in a short Man-afraid-of-his-horses, fork. Attention was drawn to these Man-that-walks- under-the-ground, rings by the bluestem grass, of Pawnee Killer. Standing Elk, which they consisted, being longer Spotted Bear, Black Deer, Turkey than the grass around them. Noticed Leg, Cut Nose, Whistler, Big Mouth, during several successive summers, Cold Feet, Cold Face, Crazy Lodge, these rings always presented the and others. My brother, Major Frank same appearance. Did they mark the North, was at the council and met spot where some ancient wigwams had Turkey Leg, the Cheyenne Chief and rotted? We do not know. They were made arrangements with him to destroyed when the ox-team and the exchange a Cheyenne woman and boy breaking plow found them. that we had taken prisoners in a On a knoll in the bluffs at the fight at Plum Creek a short time southwest corner of section 10 is before. Turkey Leg had six an old Indian burying ground. prisoners, three girls, two boys Before the country was settled and and a baby. The exchange was made while the bluffs were still in the R. R. eating house. I don't unfenced I visited this place. It remember, but my impression is that presented a gruesome appearance; there was no treaty signed at this two skulls, sections of vertebrae, time but that they had another and ribs of human beings were meeting later. I have gotten off scattered promiscuously about. what I wanted to ask you, that is, Coyotes had dug into the shallow where was the treaty signed that graves and dragged the bones forth. the clipping refers to and when. On picking up one of the crania it [Image]Yours truly, was found to have belonged to a comparatively young person. The [Image]LUTE M. NORTH "wisdom teeth" were still in the (Extract from reply.) embryo stage and had never appeared The Sioux Indian treaty referred above the gums. The other skull was to is dated April 29, 1868, at Fort that of an older person, as nearly Laramie, in government documents. all of the teeth were gone and, The report of the Commissioner those that were left were badly of Indian Affairs for the year worn. The zygomatic arch was larger 1867, an page 269, contains the on the side where the teeth were following: left, showing that the buffalo meat "In February, 1867, the menu of the Indian had long been President appointed a commission, chewed on that side of the jaw composed of two officers of the alone. A number of small ribs and army and four civilians, to visit bones of a small hand proved to be the Indian country in the vicinity the remains of a papoose. of Fort Phil Kearny, and learn all About a quarter of a mile west the facts relative to the massacre of this place was another burying, of Colonel Fetterman and his ground. This also was located on a command, and to do all in their high place overlooking the valley. power to separate the friendly from Here were but two graves. They the hostile Indians. appeared to be older than the On the 19th of April they met a others and had not been disturbed large delegation headed by Spotted by wild animals. The mounds were Tail and Swift Bear. These Indians low and on them were found small had faithfully adhered to the beads, white and blue, scraps of stipulations of the treaty signed leather and a medicine pouch. The by the chiefs at Laramie in July, latter appeared to have been made 1866, and had not molested or of rawhide and in size would have disturbed whites. After a held a watch. Why were these graves satisfactory council, they separate? The earliest settlers did distributed among them $4,000 worth not even know of their existence of presents, and assigned to them until told about their discovery. as a hunting ground the country In 1919 as I was visiting the lying between the Platte and the places where I spent my youth I Smoky Hill river. also passed the "Old Indian On the 12th of June, 1867 two of Graveyard.'' On looking up from the the commissioners, General Sanborn road in the ravine on which I was and Colonel Beauvais held a council driven I expected still to see at Laramie with chiefs and headmen skulls and bones gleam on top of claiming to represent 200 lodges of the bluffs when, lo, there was a the hostile Ogallala and Brule farmstead built on the "Old Indian Sioux among whom was The Man Afraid Burying Ground." I turned around to of his Horses (a brave and look for the other graveyard and influential chief.) They told the was not a little horrified to find commissioners that the northern that another Indians had abandoned war and that they would come in and join the friendly Indians under Spotted Tail." ------- Photo stat copies of the weather reports taken at Fort Atkinson in 1819-1820 and much other material relative to the history of the fort have recently been added to our collection. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GOOD TEMPLARS IN NEBRASKA Old Records of the First State Wide Temperance Organization Recently Acquired by the Historical Society,--- What They Show of the Beginnings of the Dry Movement. Within the past few weeks the Historical Society has come in possession of nearly complete files of the printed reports of the grand lodge of Good Templars in Nebraska. The adoption of the state prohibition amendment in 1916 and the subsequent ratification by stitutional convention which met that year, Nebraska as the thirty-sixth state reading as follows: of the prohibition amendment to the Whereas, The use of intoxicating liquors as federal constitution ends an era of a beverage can be of no possible benefit to fierce controversy over the use of mankind and has already inflicted untold alcoholic liquor. The history of misery, degradation and crime; and that controversy in Nebraska is yet Whereas, The sale of said liquors as a to be written. It is full of beverage is detrimental to the efficient civil dramatic incident and human interest government of the people of the state of stories. Nebraska; and The printed records of the grand Whereas, The prohibition of the sale of said lodge of Good Templars just received liquors as a beverage is a measure of true by the Historical society library political economy; and are a most valuable and important Whereas, A large portion of the citizens of addition to our knowledge of the the state of Nebraska desire to have the sale temperance struggle. From them the of said liquors prohibited in their respective following items are taken: portions of said state; The Good Templars were organized Now, therefore, We most earnestly petition in Nebraska July 9, 1867, at your honorable body to incorporate in the new Nebraska City. Seventeen local constitution of the state of Nebraska a section lodges were reported in the state. providing that a majority of the legal voters Among the well known persons in in each county shall have the power, by vote, Nebraska history present were: Rev. within their respective counties, to restrict J. M. Taggart, A. F. Harvey of and prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors Nebraska City; W. A. Presson, S. S. as a beverage. Alley and Wesley Dundas. The constitutional convention of 1871, did The second annual meeting was submit the question of prohibition to the held at Omaha June 17 1868, at the voters as a separate proposal, and it was voted hall of the Hope of the West Lodge - down by 6,071 for and 10,160 against. a truly significant name for an At the grand lodge meeting in 1875 the Omaha organization. From the reports allowed one hundred twenty local lodges official reports it appears there and four thousand members in the state. The were then 1647 members in good grand lodge voted that prohibition was the only standing and thirty-one local proper legislation and the temperance people lodges. should give their votes and influence only for The chief templar's address temperance candidates. There was a juvenile announces that the Good Templars is templars' organization with, over six hundred not a political organization. It is members and seventeen local temples. the duty of its members to use all At the annual meeting in 1878 the question their influence in all parties for of the third party to push the cause of the election of sober and temperance prohibition was discussed, disclosing men to office. considerable difference of opinion on the A year later the grand lodge met subject. Already radical members wished to go in Lincoln. The annual address of forward more rapidly, while conservative ones its head contains this new note: were content with the old methods. The "The subject of political action remarkable lecture work of John B. Finch had demands our attention. We talk and increased the membership to more than six discuss temperance, should we be thousand and nearly two hundred local lodges. afraid to vote as we talk? We must By 1881 the membership had increased to over make our power felt in political seven thousand. The Slocumb law was enacted by circles, for the politicians will the Nebraska legislature of 1881 and supported listen to logic of votes. It is our by the Good Templars. John B. Finch, then head duty, as temperance men, to attend of the grand lodge in the state, reported that the caucuses and conventions of our temperance people had supported the Slocumb law respective parties, and oppose every because It contained more prohibitory features nominee who bows to the whisky than the old law. power," Among the names familiar in Nebraska history The name of John M. Thurston, which appear in these printed reports are those afterward United States senator for of R. B. Windham, J. H. Culver, Mrs. Ada Nebraska and still later attorney at VanPelt, F. G. Keens, B. D. Slaughter, Miss Washington for the liquor dealers' Anna Saunders. association, appears as one of the delegates at this meeting. A year later, at the grand lodge held in 1871, Mr. Thurston was elected grand worthy chief templar, and presented a memorial to the Nebraska con- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Passing of the Nebraska Pioneer (These items are for the year 1920.) Mrs. Mike Brorkins, born in Nebraska City in 1863, died near Talmage, Sept. 24th. Benjamin Seward Mothersead died Mrs. Elma E. Dickerson Dodge, resident of at Talmage July 3rd; settled upon a Nebraska since 1859, died in Fremont, Oct. farm near Nebraska City in 1865. 10th. Mrs. Jane Maria Artist Baker died Mrs. Mary Gilmore, pioneer of 1866, died in July 4th at DeWitt: came with her Milford. Oct. 27th. parents to Nebraska in 1863; married Patrick J. Langdon, resident of Nebraska Frank P. Baker in Beatrice, Aug. 21, since 1856, enterprising and influential 1864. citizen of Gretna, died Oct. 22nd. Jonathan Wise, pioneer resident Frederick E. Allen, resident of Nemaha of Plattsmouth, died July 10th; county for sixty-one years, died Oct. 23rd; was elected in 1867 to the office of a successful farmer, banker and influential county clerk of Cass county, serving citizen until his death. two years; was a prominent Mason. Mrs. Mary George Miller, wife of T. H. Mrs. Anna Schlecht, pioneer of Miller, Crete, died Nov. 16th; came with her Cuming county died July 11th at the parents to Crete in 1867. home of her son near West Point; Mrs. Helen M. Bisbee, resident of Nebraska came with her husband to Nebraska in since 1866, died Nov. 12th; came with her 1866 and cheerfully endured the husband, the late Rev. Charles G. Bisbee, to discomforts of life on the frontier. Fontanelle and took charge of the Augustus T. Haas, a continuous Congregational Church there. Mr. and Mrs. resident of Dakota City for Bisbee were the first teachers in the sixty-two years, died August 27th; Fontanelle academy which was the forerunner of born in Hanover, Germany, May 5th, Doane college, Crete. 1835; came to America in 1848, to Robert McCray, resident of Columbus since Dakota City on June 26th 1858; was 1867, died Nov. 14th. identified with every movement for Martha Fischer, resident of Nebraska since the advancement of community 1855, died near Hooper Nov. 26th. interests. William W. Lawrence, resident of Nemaha Dr. George L. Miller, pioneer county since 1863, died in Peru May 28th. physician, resident of Omaha for Ephriam Oliver, resident of Shelton since sixty-five years, died August 30th; 1860, died June 10th; was a farmer and stock born in Booneville, N. Y. Aug. 18th, raiser; received his education in the public 1830; graduated in 1852 from the New schools of Buffalo county. York College of Physicians and Mrs. Sarah E. Wilhite who came with her Surgeons and practiced for two years father, Jesse Crook, to Richardson county in in Syracuse. Dr. Miller settled in April 1866, died June 20th; first married Omaha on Oct. 19, 1854 and began the Augustus Schoenheit, a lawyer of Falls City; in practice of medicine, but after two 1898 she married Judge James R. Wilhite, a years gave it up for wider pioneer of Richardson county. activities. Dr. Miller founded the -------------- Omaha Daily Herald which he published for twenty years and which Among the interesting adventures of later became the World-Herald. The historical society work is the discovery of new late J. Sterling Morton in speaking truth - or of the records thereof. It may be a of Dr. Miller said, "No other man, find of flints cached away in some ancient either by the power of money, or by Indian village site. It may be some weather the power of brawn, or by the stained diary of an explorer or pioneer. It may strength of brain, did as much to be some unexpected printed document giving make Omaha city as this one man exact information long sought. A set of accomplished." documents with maps and detailed information Eugene Hilton, pioneer Central upon events in the fateful frontier years City, died Sept. 8th in 1859 came 1864-76 is among the recent valued additions in with his father to the Lone Tree our library. Those include original material on Station, located on the Platte river Fort Kearny, Fort Phil Kearny, events on the three miles southwest of what is now Platte river, the extinction of the Cheyenne Central City; in his sixteenth year and Arapahoe title in western Nebraska, Sitting was a mail carrier for the stage Bull's explanation of the coming of the Indian company between Wood River and Eagle Messiah. Island. J. J. McCafferty, pioneer O'Neill died Sept. 21st; was a. writer in the cause of Irish freedom and known as a scholar before coming to this country. John K. Hazzard, pioneer of Omaha in the early fifties, died Sept. 27. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Produced for NEGenWeb, 1998 by Ted & Carole Miller