ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01751 4545
GENEALOGY
978.2
N2642
1922
NEBRASKA
AND RECORD OF
MI5TORV
♦ Vol. V.
January-March 1922
No. 1
CONTENTS
Editorial Notes 1
Memoirs of Peter Jansen 2
Letter from George Bird Grinnell ... 3
Mormons on the Niobrara — Ed A. Fry . . 4-6
The First Brick in Lincoln — A. Roberts . . 6-9
A Letter From General Henry A. Atkinson on
the Nebraska Region .... 9-11
Early Black Hills Expeditions .... 12
Early Recollections of Nebraska Granges —
T. N. Bobbitt 13-14
Nebraska in 1852 14-15
Beginnings of Minden 16
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE NEBRASKA STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
LINCOLN
Entered as second class matter February 4, 1918, at the Post Office,
Lincoln, Nebraska, under Act Augrust 24, 1912,
Allen County PuDiic Ubfa»
900 Webster Straet
PO Box 2270
Fort Wiyne, IN 4Wl4m
THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Founded September 25, 1878
The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded Sep-
tember 25, 1878, at a public meeting held in the Commercial
Hotel at Lincoln. About thirty well known citizens of the
State were present. Robert W. Furnas was chosen president
and Professor Samuel Aughey, secretary. Previous to this date,
on August 26, 1867, the State Historical Society and Library
Association was incoiporated in order to receive from the State
the gift of the block of ground, now known as Haymarket
Square. This original Historical Association held no meet-
ings. It was superseded by the present State Historical
Society.
Present Governing Board
Executive Board — Officers and Elected Members
President, Robert Harvey, Lincoln.
1st V-President, Hamilton B, Lowry, Lincoln
2nd V-President, Nathan P. Dodge Jr., Omaha
Secretary, Addison E. Sheldon, Lincoln
Treasurer, Philip L. Hall, Lincoln
Rev. Macheal A. Shine, Plattsmouth
Don L. Love, Lincoln
Samuel C. Bassett, Gibbon
John F. Cordeal, McCook
Novia Z. Snell, Lincoln
William E. Hardy, Lincoln
Ex OflFicio Members
Samuel R. McKelvie, Governor of Nebraska
Samuel Avery, Chancellor of University of Nebraska
George C. Snow, Chadron, President of Nebraska Press Association
Howard W. Caldwell, Professor of American History, University of
Nebraska
Andrew M. Morrissey, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Nebraska
Clarence A. Davis, Attorney General cf Nebraska
NEBRASKA (^i.HI5TORV
AND RECORD OF , ,/\n^^\yimmk i^ioneer dj^^s
'r
a
Published Quarterly by the Nebraska State Historical Soceity
Addison E. Sheldon, Editor
Subscription, $2.00 per year
All sustaining members of the Nebraska State Historical Society receive
Nebra,ska History and other publications without further payment.
Vol. V. January-March 1922 No. 1
Miss Ruth A. Gallaher writes a ,good account of the Mormon hand-
cart expeditions in 1856, some of which outfitted at Iowa City, in the Pa-
limpsest, published by the State Historical Society of Iowa. One of these
expeditions left Florence, Nebraska, August 18 of that year and passed
beyond Fort Laramie in September. It was overtaken by snow storms
and many of its number perished from cold and hunger before the main
body reached Salt Lake City in November. Most of the members were
immigrants from Europe. Men, women, and children pushed handcarts
and walked from the Missouri river to Salt Lake. Miss Galleher says
that the deaths in 1856 handcart columns led to acrimonious corres-
pondence between Mormon leaders and discontinuance of handcart par-
ties. Handcart Mormon expeditions were, however, still walking to Zion
on the Nebraska City-Fort Kearny trail in the late sixties before the
completion of the Union Pacific to the Salt Lake. There are persons
living in Nebraska who remember these handcart and wheelbarrow con-
panies.
Among the interesting souvenirs of early times in Furnas c.unty is
one received from the dau,ghter of William Sweeney, of Arapahoe. This
read thus:
August 25, 1874. The bearer Mr. T. G. Brown is empowered to col-
lect from William Sweeney the sum of six dollars ($6.00) being money
due me for use of cattle six days. John W. Gillmore. * * * p^jji
this bill with four dollars ($4.00) Tuesday, November 24 to T. G. Brown
at drug store. William Sweeney.
It would appear that the service of a yoke of cattle was valued by
the owner at one dollar a day, but he compromised at four dollars for
six days. This receipt is wi-itten upon a narrow sheet of note paper
bearing a map in the upper left-hand corner showing Arapahoe as a
great railroad center with lines of road reaching out in every direction.
2 NEBRASKA HISTORY
MEMOIRS OF PETER JANSEN
Hon. Peter Jansen was bo}-n March 21, 1852, at the town
of Berdjansk, on the shore of the sea of Azof in southeastern
Russia. He came to Nebraska in 1874. He is still among us
and publishes a volume of 140 pages entitled "Memoirs of Pe-
ter Jansen." The reader wishes the book were longer. It is
one of a number of books now being published by the pioneers
of Nebraska, each one telling the story of the early days in a
personal, vivid, interesting and truthful way.
Senator Jansen's sketch of his life has far more than the
usual interest because it tells the story of the great "Mennon-
ite migration" which filled vast areas of Nebraska prairies in
Jefferson, Gage, Clay, Hamilton and York counties in the de-
cade of 1870-80. It is time, even now, to do honor and give
credit to those people in the settlement of our State. They
bi-ought to Nebraska a perfectly disciplined, religious, frugal,
hard working people. Almost without a single exception they
made a success of their settlements and of each individual
home in them.
How queer and clannish they appeared to the eyes of the
original American stock. Boyhood recollections of the writer
emphasize this. The Mennonite houses, built of sod with a
huge brick stove nearly filling one of the rooms, burning straw
for fuel and used as a general bedstead for the family on cold
winter nights. The housing of live stock in a section of the
family home. The cut of the clothes. And all that.
The old American stock was inclined to scoff at these
queer people from Russia, speaking German, sticking close to-
gether and finding in the old fashioned religion of their de-
nomination most of their culture as well as consolation. They
certainly taught Nebraska some good lessons. First of all
they brought Turkey red winter wheat from southeastern
Russia. They brought that splendid hedge tree, fruit tree
and bird shelter — the Russian mulberry. They brought stead-
iness and devotion and showed how homes could be made upon
the high prairies of central Nebraska. They brought also a
deep, even if at times, irrational, belief and practice in peace
doctrines, for they were Quakers. They had left Prussia a
hundred years before to avoid military service. They had set-
tled in southern Russia with solemn guaranty of exemption
from that service. When the Czar broke the contract and be-
gan to marshal all his subjects for the great w^ar preparation
in Europe which followed the Franco-Prussian w^ar of 1870,
these people left the fruitful farms they had made and came
to Nebraska.
Looking back upon their almost fifty years of settlement
in this state it can be said that they have proven themselves
one of the most valuable of many valuable elements in our
NEBRASKA HISTORY 3
population. It is time for those of us having the old American
stock in our blood to say this now while some of the pioneer
Mennonites are still among us. It will be said by all, and es-
pecially by the future Nebraska historians in a century from
now.
Senator Peter Jansen has not only given the people of his
time a book of current interest, but has made a document
which will be valued by the historian of the future as one of
the most important contributions to the history of pioneer Ne-
braska.
LETTER FROM GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL
Many thanks for the copy of Dr. Koenig's Study of Tu-
berculosis Among the Nebraska Winnebago. The conditions
which she pictures are shocking, but not new. In many tribes
they have been noticed for years, though not described in de-
tail as by Dr. Koenig. Her paper is most interesting and it
is useful to have the matter again brought up now and in such
form as to reach a new public.
The Indians are wholly ignorant of sanitation, of the
communicability of tuberculosis, and of the dangers which fol-
low the recent changes in mode of life. But perhaps the most
fatal thing that the Indians have had to face is the absolute
lack of an interest. In the old times the constant search for
food, the excitements of the war path, the moving about from
place to place, kept them interested and busy. These occupa-
tions have all disappeared ; and where people are in receipt of
some small income that will just support them, and so have no
motive whatever for exertion, they are without any active in-
terest in their lives.
What the outcome shall be of the difficulties the race is
meeting, we cannot now tell ; but to view the largely prevent-
able suffering among many tribes of Indians, is discouraging
and painful.
Dr. Koenig has done a useful piece of work in bringing to-
gether her observations about this particular tribe. I am es-
pecially glad that she has made inquiry into the use of peyote,
and has published what she has learned. This testimony ought
to be of some help in securing legislation by Congress against
the transportation of this drug, the use of which I have always
believed is enormously harmful.
I congratulate Dr. Koenig on her paper, and the Nebras-
ka Historical Society on its energy in publishing this.
D. C. Young, rural route 1, Plattsmouth, writes:
Please send a few extra copies of Nebraska History from July to
December, 1921. I want to send some of them to a son of Robert Stafford,
mentioned as an early settler of Rock Bluff. I am acquainted with two
men here that took part in some of the Indian fighting of the 60's. I
will try to get some data of them. I will send you the picture of my
father's log house that was built in 1855, a part of which is still standing.
NEBRASKA HISTORY
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THE MORMON WINTER CAMP ON THE NIOBRARA.
In the October-December (1921) number of the Nebraska History
Magazine, I note the wish of Hon. George F. Smith, of Waterbury, Dix-
on County, that a marker might be placed somewhere on tlie Old Mormon
Trail that passes from Florence to Niobrara. As little seems to be known
of the Mormons in this state and why they should have selected the
mouth of the Niobrara for winter quarters on their way to their prom-
ised land, perhaps I am in as good a position to reveal the facts as
anybody.
The first white people, in any considerable number, to stop in the
old L'Eau qui Court (Rapid river or Niobrara) county were the Mor-
rnons. The party comprised sixty-five families with one hundred and
fifty wagons. It was the pioneer train to the land of promise, and it
was at this point (or rather on the west bank of the Niobrara river op-
posite the town of Niobrara) that they spent the winter of 1846-7.
Until 1901 it was believed by the founders of Niobrara, because of
the_ numerous graves found in that vicinity, that these Mormons had
perished at the hands of the red men, and their coming and their going
was shrouded in mysteiy. In June, 1901, Isaad and John Riddle, the
former from Provo, Utah, the latter from Crete, Nebraska, visited Nio-
brara for the purpose of locating these landmarks and two mill burrs that
had been left here by them in their departture.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 5
It was my good fortune to have an extended interview with these
Mormons. Isaac, at the time of the Mormon camp here in 1847, was six-
teen, and his return gave me an opportunity to straighten out history,
and it is hoped that Captain North will, if he has not already done so,
locate "Pawnee Station," the first stop.
Mr. Riddle said that in their start from Kanesville, Iowa, in July,
1846, they made the first wagon wheel mark up the Platte Valley.
While in camp at Pawnee Station (presumably near Columbus or Genoa),
where soldiers were stationed, they contracted with the government to
harvest a crop of small grain and corn which had been put in by la-
borers, but who, becoming frightened by the Pawnees, had fled. While
thus engaged in the close of the harvest a courier from Kanesville ar-
rived with orders not to proceed farther, as it was feared they could not
reach their destination before winter set in, and they should seek winter
quarters.
It was found that prairie fires had devastated the country west of
Laramie and thereabouts. A band of Ponca Indians chanced to be vis-
iting the Pawnees at the time, who, upon inquiry, reported that excel-
lent winter quarters could be found at the mouth of the Niobrara river,
and they volunteered to pilot them. Mr. Riddle said that his party had
with them a small cajinon which much attracted their attention and he
thought that this was one reason for their solicitation, since the Sioux
always annoyed the Poncas.
The Ponca had truly led them into a country of verdure — plenty of
feed and timber and game. The young men of the party frequently ac-
companied the Indians in their winter hunts up the Niobrara Valley,
''going where the pine timber was quite heavy." The timber stretches
were abundant with wild turkeys and the prairies alive with buffalo.
''Where your town now stands," (Niobrara), said the aged patriarch,
"there were Indian camps from the mouth of the Niobrara to Five Mile
(Bazile) Creek."
During the winter of 1846-7 Newell Knight, a millwright, chiseled
from granite boulders found in the neighboring hillsides, two mill-burrs,
with which they had intended to grind their grain by horse-power.
Mr. Knight and sixteen others, principally women and children, suc-
cumbed to pnevimonia. The mission of the Riddles was to locate these
graves for Jesse Knight, the Utah capitalist, whose father's remains lie
here, that an appropriate monument might be erected in memory of that
winter's sojourn. The graves had become extinct, but ashes from fire-
places in the barracks were found.
In the spring of 1907 Jesse Knight, two daughters, and elder brother,
the president of the Mormon University, and J. W. Townsend, of Crete,
Nebraska, who also accompanied the Riddles in 1901, made final arrange-
ments for the ground on which the present impressive granite shaft,
surrounded by an iron fence, faces the public highway, telling its own
short story thus:
Erected 1908
NEWELL KNIGHT
Born Sept. 13, 1800, Died Jan. 11, 1847
A Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints.
Father
Who died during the hardships of our exodus from Nauvoo to Salt
Lake City. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness
sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Matt. V ch., 10 vs.
6 NEBRASKA HISTORY
Others Who Died at Ponca in the Years 1846-7:
Mr. Cava!
Mrs. Caval
Lucy Brunson
Ann Boyce
Mrs. Rufus Tack
Mrs. Spicer Crandall
Mrs. Newell Drake
Mrs. Dame
Gardurout Noble
Benjamin F. Mayer
In the spring of 1847 these Mormons were called back to Florence
by Kanesville church heads, returning by the Bazile Valley and over to
the Logan Valley. A new start was made the spring following. This
route was selected, Mr. Riddle explained, because of the heavy rains
and consequent impassable condition of the Platte Valley. By taking
the old trail via Watei'bury and the head of the Bazile, they were enabled
to head the Elkhorn that they might reach Laramie. The main business
street of Creighton, Nebraska, is on the Old Mormon Trail.
EDWIN A. FRY.
These burrs were in existence when the first permanent white set-
tlers came to Niobrara and were used in a small mill on the Red Bird,
but no trace of them could be found when the Riddles and the Knights
were here, nor since. It was supposed that the west channel that forms
Niobrara Island Park had been used for power, and to this day that
channel is designated as "the Mormon canal," but this was not the case,
as these authorities advised me when inquiry was made.
FROM A YOUNG OCTOGENARIAN PIONEER
I think the following letter fully fits the title.
Mr. Roberts' statement that all of the bricks for the first
university building were made in Nebraska City seems to be
incorrect. "A Complete History" of Its (Lincoln's) Foundation
and Growth ," by John H. Ames, printed in June 1870,
hundred and foi*ty thousand bricks are now on hand, and the
brick-yard is furnished with one thousand cords of wood and
two improved brick machines capable of moulding 28,000
bricks per day, with which brick may be made as fast as need-
ed in the construction of the building. A sufficient amount of
sand and lime is also on hand for the completion of the work,
which is to be commenced on the walls during the present
week " This statement by Mr. Ames deserves credence.
Furthermore, under date of June 22, 1870, David Butler, gov-
ernor ; John Gillespie, auditor ; and Thomas P. Kennard, secre-
tary of state, as "Commissioners of Public Buildings of the
State of Nebraska," certify the correctness of the history.
Thomas Malloy, a stonecutter from Chicago who was em-
ployed in the construction of the first capitol in Lincoln, in a
short history of that entei-prise referred incidentally to the
construction of the university building, as follows: *Tn 1868
Mr. Robert Silvers got the contract of building the State Uni-
versity. The first thing he did was to start a brick yard. He
NEBRASKA HISTORY 7
bought all the wood he could find in the country and had to
haul it with teams as there was no railroad in the country at
that time."
The contract for the erection of the university building
was dated August 18, 1869. D. J. Silver and Son were the con-
tracting builders. The son, Robert D., was the actual builder.
This scandalous agreement with David Butler, on the part of
the state, was the gist of articles of the impeachment proceed-
ings against the governor.
Mr. James Stuart Dales, who has been secretary of the
board of regents of the university since December 1, 1875,
says that some bricks, made in Nebraska City, were used for
facing the walls of the building.
Dade City, Florida, March 23, 1922.
Mr. Albert Watkins,
Lincoln, Nebraska.
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 20th instant received. It seems odd to be
called upon to recite, as if it were ancient history, some facts
that seem to me very recent. It may be true that I am_ get-
ting old but where are the scores of younger men who knew
as well as I or better all about the building of the first or Ad-
ministration building of the State University. I arrived in
Lincoln, February 20th, 1870, and on the 22nd there was an
adjournment of the state legislature and all went out to view
the site of the penitentiary which had just been located. It
was a fine warm day and I and two friends were lying on the
grass southwest of the capitol when we saw a cloud of dust
and teams coming from the south. It was the legislators and
citizens coming back from the Penitentiary site. They were in
open lumber wagons mostly. (There was only one two-seated
carriage in town at the time, that of Governor Butler ) , and all
were engaged in a wild race whipping the horses and yelling
like Comanches. That was my introduction to official Nebras-
ka. But I am not answering your questions.
The brick for the University building came from Nebras-
ka City. Part of them were on the ground when I came and
the walls of the basement were more than half completed. The
bricks were laid in that year 1870 and at that time no bricks
had been made at Lincoln except one or two small kilns burn-
ed by Luke Lavender. L. K. Holmes began burning brick in
1879 and that fall or the next spring Moore & Krone began
burning brick. They had the contract for the High School
building and burned their own brick. That was in 1872. I do
not know who hauled the brick for the University or whether
Nebraska City helped pay for hauling, but presume not. John
M. Burks, if still alive, should know something about the mat-
8 NEBRASKA HISTORY
ter but Nebraska City was not enthusiastically friendly to
Lincoln in 1870.
It so happened that I had just made a call upon Mr. Silver
the day his men fell through and two were killed. They were
putting on the ceiling joists over the chapel and the roof
trusses were not completed, only the stringers, or tie beams,
were laid across and held up by shores of 2 x 4 pieces spiked
together — 30 feet long — and these swayed fearfully as the
men walked carrying the joists. I called Mr. Silver's atten-
tion to this saying it was certainly dangerous but he only said,
"Waite is running that and he knows his business." JBefore
i-eaching home I heard the crash and looking back saw the dust
rising and knew what had happened.
It was during the term of Gov. James that the founda-
tion of the University building was repaired. Prof. Aughey
first called my attention to the matter and after looking it
over I called upon the governor and at my request he went
with me to look it over. The walls of the chapel wing were
in the worst condition and we entered this part through a
window where the sash had been removed and a plank
from the sill to ground inside furnished easy access. The
walls were built with rather thin ashlar courses 17 feet high
on the outside, backed with very poor rubble work inside, and
not being properly bonded they were parting company. I
picked up a barrel hoop and passed it through the center of
a pier from one window to another, and I will never forget
how frightened the governor was. Shouting Hold! Hold! 'till
I get out he jumped through that window like a rabbit. At
call of the governor the regents met and let a contract to John
McFarland of Nebraska City to put new walls under the chap-
el wing. Mac was a pretty fine old man, for one who had
served a term in the pen. for murder, but he liked good whis-
key and the work was left mostly in my care especially after
an occurrence that I wish to relate because I have had men
declare it could not be true. McFarland began work on the
N. W. corner pier and had completed that and the one next to
it and was getting ready to take out the next (on the west
side) when it was time to quit work on Saturday afternoon,
That evening it rained hard. Prof. Aughey was woiking in
the laboratory when he heard a noise and on examination
found that the pier next to the new work had fallen complete-
ly out. He hastened to the residence of Chancellor Benton on
H street and together they came to my home on P street and
we all hurried to the building. On the way, however, I called
at the St. Charles hotel where Mac and his men all boarded
and got several of the men to go with me. We had only one
lantern, and it was still raining. The brick pier three stories
in height was still hanging, being supported by the brick that
NEBRASKA HISTORY 9
extended across between the windows, but it was slowly giv-
ing way, as we could tell by the chunks of plaster that kept
falling inside, some heavy enough to crush the chapel seats
where they fell. There was no way to save the pier but by
getting a "needle" under it supported by heavy blocking both
inside and outside. To send men inside seemed too great a
risk and yet if the pier should fall it would probably bring
down the whole wing if it did not wreck the building for it
was a wonder to all who saw the condition of the walls that
they stood at all. I asked the Chancellor what to do, but he
would not say — nor would Aughey, but as the pier had stood
thus for an hour I took a chance. Calling for volunteers I
held the light and stood by to give orders, and there was
where old King Alcohol helped me. The men sprang to the
work at the first word and exactly followed my orders. In a
few minutes the needle was placed and jackscrews tightened.
The pier was safe. What the result might have been had the
pier fallen and dragged down as it must the whole chapel wing,
at a time when Omaha was raising hades to get the Univer-
sity can only be guessed. But I have always thought if the
men had not been well fired with corn whiskey, they would
not have risked going inside that dark basement with the
bricks crushing and plaster crashing down above them.
Yours very truly,
A. ROBERTS.
LETTER FROM GENERAL ATKINSON TO COLONEL
HAMILTON
(General Henry Atkinson defeated the Indians at the bat-
tle of Bad Axe, Wis., in 1832. Fort Atkinson, Nebraska, is nam-
ed for him. He was born in North Carolina, in 1782, became
Brigadier General in 1821, and died in 1842. Colonel W. S.
Hamilton, U. S. A., Lieut. Col. Rifles, resigned in 1817. The let-
ter is characteristic of the "Old Army" and shows the then
geographical distribution of Indian tribes, some now extinct.)
Louisville, Ky., Dec. 21, 1825.
My Dear Colonel :
I had the pleasure a short time since, to receive your
friendly letter of the 2nd, Sept., written at the Bay of St.
Louis.
I will not attempt to describe the pleasure and the grat-
itude I feel impressed with by your kind remembrances and
more kindly sentiments.
Let it suffice for me to say that I reciprocate with them
fully — yes as fully and as freely as you could wish in the heart
of your old friend and Capt. I have, as you mention, for sev-
eral years been called from point to point in discharge of var-
ious duties assigned me on the frontier, at St. Louis and at
10 NEBRASKA HISTORY
this place, rendering my service more active than has fallen
to the lot of almost any other officer, and of course more
agreeable, and I have the consolation to believe that I enjoy
the confidence of government and the esteem and respect of
the officers under me — and what is not least, your appro-
bation— these things I would say only to a friend because they
would otherwise savor of egotism, which in me God forbid, but
they are reflections that gratify me when I think upon them,
and when I converse with friends like you.
The duties I performed last Summer were both pleasing
to me and of importance. In May, 1825,(1) Congress authori-
zed the President to appoint commissioners to hold treaties of
Trade and friendship with the Indian Tribes "beyond the
Mississippi" and to employ a Military escort to accompany
them. $10,000 was appropriated to defray the expenses of
transportation, and $10,000. for expenses incident to holding
treaties with and for presents to the Indians. Major O'Fallon
and myself were appointed to fill the commission, and I was
directed to select the troops to compose the escort and to de-
cide upon its strength. The act passed too late in 1825(1) to
afford time to perform the duties, in that season. I, however,
provided transportation and provisions and concentrated the
escort, consisting of 500 men, at Council Bluffs that fall, and
early in May, of the present year, moved with this force from
Council Bluffs and proceeded up the Missouri river to a point
120 miles above the mouth of Yellow Stone River. On our
ascent of the river we held councils and made treaties with
twelve Tribes and on our return to the Bluffs, with five other
tribes.
Those above the Bluffs were the:
Poncans, 180 warriors ; Yanktons, 600 warriors ; Yanton-
ais, 800 warriors ; Tetons, 600 warriors ; Siones, 800 warriors ;
Ogallalas, 300 warriors ; Hunkpapas, 300 warriors ; Cheyennes,
600 warriors ; Aricaras, 500 warriors ; Mandans, 250 warriors ;
Minatarees 250 warriors; and Crows, 800 warriors.
South of the Bluffs :
Otoes, 300 warriors; Grand Pawnees, 1,100 warriors;
Pawnee Loups, 700 warriors ; Pawnee Republics, 300 warriors ;
and Mahas, 500 warriors.
These tribes comprise all the Indians from Council Bluffs
up to the Rocky Mountains that reside on the Missouri or ever
visit it, except the Blackf eet Indians and the Assiniboins ; the
first of these reside at the foot of the Mountains on the head
waters of the Missouri, too distant for us to have reached
them. We could easily have reached the falls of the Missouri,
but then they would have yet been 700 miles above us. The
Assiniboins reside on the head waters of the Milk river, a
branch of the Missouri. The Blackfeet, who are broken into
NEBRASKA HISTORY 11
many tribes, are estimated at 5,000 warriors, and the Assini-
boins at 2,000.
We performed our trip with great faciUty and ease, ow-
ing partly to the manner our transports were propelled, that
is by wheels, and it is remarkable that a body of more than
550 men should have encountered the dangerous navigation
of the Missouri, ordinary casualties, etc., with out losing on
the whole voyage a single soul, or meeting with any accident
to our transports.
On my return to St. Louis on the 19th, Oct., after a de-
tention of two weeks there, I proceeded to this place with a
view of prosecuting my journey to Washington City. I had
felt a great desire for some time to visit the place and then
spend a few months among my friends in North Carolina, but
on my arrival I was detained in command of this dept., and
General Scott departed for N. Y., and here I must remain, I
suppose, till relieved by General Gaines, who is expected out
in a month or less; and then, for crossing the mountains. I
don't know what I can say that would interest you about our
army affairs.
Bissell has gone to Washington with a full hope of being
brought to fill the yet vacant Colonelcy in one of the Artillery
Regiments. It is thought, however, he will fail. General
Scott and Gaines, are quarreling about their rank, and some
serious notes have passed between them. How they will set-
tle the dispute, I am unable to say, as to their rank, if there
should be a doubt, a board of officers, should be convened to
settle it. Clinch, (2) our mutual friend, is and always will do
well. He has a well-poised mind and a good judgment. I am
afi'aid the habits of C will ruin him, poor fellow I mourn
over his unhappy propensities. Morgan is doing well, his hab-
its are good and he has a fine intellect and a noble soul. I feel
a determination to avail myself of those gifts Heaven has
provided for us. I am strengthened with a hope of success
from the circumstances of enjoying the best of constitutions.
*****
Let us, as you propose, write quarterly to each other,
without awaiting answers. I beg of you to present me kindly
to Mrs. Hamilton, and speak of me to your little boys.
Yours aff'y and sincerely,
H. ATKINSON.
(1) Obviously an error for 1824.
(2) This was probably Gen. Duncan S. Clinch, for whom
Fort Clinch, Fla., was named. His daughter (d. 1905), mar-
ried Major Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame.
Chris Tatge, died at Norfolk Februai-y 4, 1922, aged ninety-one years,
11 months. He was bom in Germany and settled in Cedar County in
1887. He was an enthusiastic horticulturist, the originator of the Tatge
plum and the Randolph plum, varieties approved by experts in that field.
12 NEBRASKA HISTORY
EARLY BLACK HILLS EXPEDITIONS.
Old-timers in the west ai-e the only persons who can now
appreciate the impenetrable mystery which surrounded the
name "Black Hills of South Dakota" fifty years agro. The gos-
sip of early trappers and plainsmen ascribe to that region
marvels which made it a rival of Yellowstone Park. Old tales
of Father De Smet relating how gold nuggets had been brought
by Indians from that wonderful mountain area rising from the
plains and badlands were current. The determination of the
Sioux and Chej-'enne tribes to keep white people from explor-
ing there intensified the mystery.
The earliest organized attempts to reach the Black Hills
in order to explore for gold started from Sioux City.
Charles Collins, editor of the Sioux City Times, and John
Gordon were two of the earliest promoters of this expedi-
tion. In 1868 the United States by solemn treaty at Fort Lar-
amie with the Sioux Indians agreed to keep white men out of
the region. About 1872 agitation to open the region began at
Sioux City and continued. There were great profits to any
city in outfitting expeditions of gold hunters. The business
men of Sioux City were the first to start the movement for
invasion of the Black Hills. Early expeditions started from
Sioux City and followed the general course of the Niobrara
river. One of these expeditions, known as the Gordon expe-
dition, was halted near Boiling Springs, in Cherry County, May
13, 1875. Its outfit was burned and its members taken as
military prisoners to Fort Randall.
The interesting history of Nebraska, as well as Iowa, of
this early Black Hills gold rush, is related by Dr. Erik M.
Eriksson in the Iowa Journal of History and Politics for July,
1922. The first expedition from Sioux City assembled three
miles west of the Missouri river near Covington, Nebraska,
October 16, 1874. Their wagon tops were inscribed ''O'Neil's
Colonies" in order to give out the impression that their desti-
nation was the Elkhorn valley. This expedition fooled the mili-
tary, reached the Black Hills December 28, 1874, built a stock-
ade and made the first white settlement in the Black Hills.
Next April a detachment of United States soMers surrounded
them and took them as prisoners to Fort Laramie, Wyoming.
The best route to the Black Hills was from Sidney, cross-
ing the North Platte about three miles above Bridgeport and
passing by the Red Cloud agency near the present city of
Crawford. The history of the Black Hills gold rush is so in-
terwoven with that of the Nebraska region that no accurate
account of it can be written which does not include the Ne-
braska movement. Professor Eriksson has rendered valuable
service in compiling from newspapers and other sources a
reliable account of that part of the Black Hills movement.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 13
MY RECOLLECTION OF THE EARLY GRANGE
IN NEBRASKA
By T. N. Bobbitt
I remember the early state and local Grange well. It was
born of a necessity.
The agricultural interests of the nation were depressed.
It was an effort to better conditions — which it did.
It was a secret organization. Its founders were of the
National Department of Agriculture at Washington.
The Nebraska State Grange was organized at Grand Is-
land in the summer of 1873. W, B, Porter, master; Wm. Mc-
Caig, secretary, both of Cass County ; Mr. McThurson of Saun-
ders County as treasurer (as I remember) .
In the fall of 1873 the Eagle Grange, Cass County, was
organized. T. N. Bobbitt was master and Ed Post secretary.
The purposes were social, educational and financial. Two
of the offices of each Grange were filled by women of the
Grange and the female patrons were usually present at all
meetings and many were th«e times we had a splendid dinner
and a fine social time.
In April, 1874, as master of our Grange, I attended the
first regular Grange meeting at Seward Nebraska. I
think there were at least 75 delegates present, including sev-
eral ladies. We had a profitable session of about three days.
Seward did not have hotel accommodations for all and
many of us had rooms at private homes. Many long time
friendships were made at these meetings and I later attended
a state meeting at Lincoln — there were many there. Gen.
Van Wyck was there from Otoe county. There were dissen-
sions there — I will not say more as it was inside the grange.
Our grange adopted a system of wholesale buying, as did
other granges by taking money belonging to the grange, buy-
ing in quantities the things most needed for cash. The mas-
ter, or some one appointed to purchase and distribute these
articles, returned the money to the grange treasurer, thus get-
ting wholesale rates. Purchases were largely made of Lin-
coln wholesale houses.
Subsequently I attended a county meeting at South Bend.
The Granges near there were building a little elevator, holding
about a carload of grain, using scoops to move the grain. This
was the first grange elevator on the Burlington. Later a larg-
er and better one was built at Greenwood. I was a stockholder.
Later the enterprise failed and it cost me twelve times as
much to get out as it did to get in.
It has been said that politics killed the grange, which is
largely true, but there were other reasons. The grangers un-
dertook more things than they could carry through. Our
Greenwood elevator failed. At Plattsmouth, the granges be-
14 NEBRASKA HISTORY
gan manufacturing- cultivators and failed. At Rock Bluffs
they shipped grain by steamboats on the Missouri River, but
lacked vv^arehouses and thereby suffered loss. The grange
movement was needed and accomplished much good. It lacked
sufficient capital and in some cases men of ability and integ-
rity to carry it through.
Our state grange did much good during the winter of
1874-5, distributing supplies to needy grangers through Ne-
braska (after the grasshopper raid, July 26, 1874). W. B.
Porter as state master was appointed on the state relief com-
mittee to receive from the granges over the United States the
money and other supplies sent in and distribute the same.
There are many granges yet in existence and still doing good
in the world.
NEBRASKA IN 1852.
Many of the most interesting glimpses of early Nebraska
are found in the diaries and letters of early emigrants cross-
ing the plains. In recent years there has been a flood of print-
ed literature from these early lay sources. In the Washington
Historical Society Quarterly, July, 1922, is an account of cross-
ing the plains from Prmceton, Illinois, to Salem, Oregon, in
1852, by Clarence B. Bagley. The party left Princeton April
20, and reached Salem September 17.
Some of the statements in this story are new to the editor.
Among them are theso :
(1) That the hills across the river from Kanesville,
(present site of Omaha) in 1852, were called Council Bluffs.
(2) That a band of Pawnee operated a floating pontoon
made of rushes across the Elkhorn in 1852.
The interesting query, why a wagon jolts in driving across
the sandy bed of a swift river, is this probably due to the cur-
rent digging out the sand in the bed as the wagon travels?
The old controversy whether the Oregon Trail was on the
north side of the Platte or the south, or on both, may be sug-
gested by the account of large wagon trains going west on
both sides in 1852. The undeniable truth about this is that the
first trail across the continent started from Independence,
Missouri, and kept on the south side of the Platte all the way
to Fort Laramie. This trail was traveled by increasing num-
bers every year from 1882 on. It received the name of the
Oregon Trail before there was any traveled road up the north
side of the Platte. The north side road began with the Mor-
mon migration of 1846-47. It started from Florence and kept
on the north side of the Platte river all the way to Fort Lara-
mie. After the discovery of gold in California, the north side
trail was extensively traveled by people from the northern
NEBRASKA HISTORY 15
states who did not wish to go so far out of their way as re-
quired in order to start on the old Oregon Trail. This north
side road was sometiraes called the California Trail. It was
not generally called the Oregon Trail at any time, since that
name had already been given to the road on the south of the
Platte. The following extracts are taken from the Bagley
diary :
Our route lay through Oskaloosa and Des Moines in Iowa, and we
reached the Missouri river on May 22, 1852, at or just below the Old
Mo)mon town of Kanesville. On the opposite banks of the river were
hills then termed Council Bluffs, I believe from the fact that it had of-
ten happened that treaties and '^councils" with the Indians had been
made there.
It took us all day to cross, as there were many other wagons to be
taken over and all of ouvs did not have the right of way at the same
time. My recollection is that this ferryboat was operated by steam.
We were now at the westerly limit of civilization. On the east bank
of the river were a few small trading villages, but on the westerly bank
the Indian country began. There were thousands of Indians camping on
the river bottom and on the bluffs where Omaha now stands. We waited
here over one day, Sunday, May 23, 1852, to ,get all ready for our r;al
start for Oregon.
The migration of 1852 was the heaviest of any to Oregon and C;.li-
fornia. It was then and always has been estimated that it reached fully
50,000. On all our part of the trip we had no fear of the Indians except
to protect ourselves from the pilfering of articles about camp and from
stealing our horses at night.
Among Father Mercer's papers I found, several years ago, his origi-
nal list of the night patrol of sentries that went on guard each night
with the stock, as most of the time they had to be taken quite a distance
from camp in order that they might have sufficient grass to feed upon.
This was a serious handicap all along the route and became much worse
after the migration on the south of the Platte crossed over to the north
side, somewhere near Fojt Laramie, I believe.
At Council Bluffs, Thomas Mercer was elected captain of the com-
pany and directed its movements across the plains. It was a necessary
custom to select a captain of each party, who directed the movements of
the train about stopping for the night and starting in the morning; about
"laying over," on Sunday or any other time it was thought best. Other-
wise there would have been frequent disputes and disagreements about
the movements of the company. The trip was on to bring out all the
good qualitis and the bad ones, "as well, but I do not remember any sei-ious
disputes along the whole oi the route .
After resting over one day, we made our real start ''across the
plains" on the 24th of May, 1852. This proved to ba a comparatively
early start as thousands came after us. We found better grazing in con-
sequence and less dust, jn.o small item in an alkaline country. About
twenty miles out we had to cross a narrow, deep, sluggin,g stream called
the Elkhorn. Here we hud our only dispute with the Indians. A band of
Pawnees had constructed of rushes a floating pontoon or bridge that
would hold a wagon and team. They demanded for each team and wagon
five dollars. This our people felt was exorbitant and they offered to pay
one dollar instead, which in turn was refused. Our men got their rifles
and told the Indians thut it meant a fight unless the lower offer was
accepted. After a lot of loud talk matters quieted do\\^l and the Indians
agreed upon the dollar a/id we came on our way.
All through May and June we drove on up the Platte and its tribu-
taries. For hundreds of miles the road was so level that but for the
Platte running eastward jno one could have told we were gradually as:end-
16 NEBRASKA HISTORY
ing toward the Rocky Mountains. In one stretch of two hundred miles
we saw but one lone tree, a Balm of Gilead on an island in the river. Our
fuel was called "buffalo chips/' though I am sure that much of it was
from the cattle that haci preceded us, instead of buffalo. That year the
migration was so large dnd close together that the buffalo were fright-
ened away from our vicinity and we never saw one on the trip.
For hundreds of miles we saw a constant procession of wagons on
the south bank as well as on our own north side. We came to recognize
some of the trains on the further side and, of course, on our own .side.
Years later I often heard father addressed by someone in Oregon who
told of meeting our train on the Platte or on the Snake River. Alon,g
the Platte the most notable feature of natural scenery was "Chimney
Rock," that was shaped like an immense circular chimney set on a hill.
It was on the south side of the river, a few miles away from it. Its form-
ation was of a soft rocl<. or indurated clay that in that arid climate was
subject to slight erosion. It has been an object of frequent note for one
hundred years, and in the years since we saw it has shown but little
chan,ge in shape or height.
We forded several streams so deep that blocks were put undei- the
beds of the wagons so tUat the water would not damage articles in them.
One of the large branches of the Platte, Loup Fork, was the most notable
of these. It was necessary to drive very rapidly to avoid sinking in the
quicksands all the way across, yet the wagons rattled and jolted as
though the bottom was broken rock instead of sand.. It greatly excited
my curiosity at the time and I never have understood the peculiar form-
ation that would let a wagon or animal settle in it and scon engulf it
and yet seem like rock when driven across. We took the precaution to
have our horses drink all the water they would before driving into the
stream that they might not try to stop on the way across. All little de-
tails of every day life had to be carefullythought out to avoid necessary
delays and difficulties.
BEGINNINGS OF MINDEN
The Minden News of June 1, 1922 has an interesting story of the
beginnings of Minden. Minden was first an idea, then a suivey, finally
a county seat. The idea originated in a broom cornfield on the farm of
Joel Hull in September, 1875. Five men were harvesting broom corn.
There was not another house within four miles. Eating lunch at noon
on the grass the five men made up the plan to buy a quarter section of
land as near the center of Kearney county as possible, survey it into a
town site, offer it as the future county seat to the voters and if success-
ful to turn the land over to the county at cost. In accordance with this
plan Mr. Hull bought the southeast quarter of section seven, town six,
range four, from the Union Pacific Railroad Company at $3.75 per acre.
The voters of Kearney County at a special election November 21, 1876,
voted to locate the county seat on the tract almost unanimously. The
quarter section was Ihen offered to the county commissioners for the
price paid the railroad company. The commissioners refused to accept
it for lack of funds. Mr. Hull then organized the Kearney County Land
Association which took over the tract and platted it into lots. The orig-
inal plan of the founders of Minden became a reality. As the county
seat was located at the center the prolonged and bitter county seat con-
test which mars the history of so many Nebraska counties was avoided.
When the Burlington railroad built across the county, Minden Avas a
natural and convenient point and by construction of the railroad became
not only the county seat but the chief town of the county which it has
continued to be. Not many counties or county seats have had as smooth
sailing and prosperous a voyage in their political and industrial devel-
opment as Kearney county and Minden.
THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Made a State Institution February 27, 1883.
An act of the Nebraska legislature, recommended by Governor
James W. Dawes in his inaugural and signed by him, made the State
Historical Society a State institution in the following:
Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Nebraska:
Section 1. That the "Nebraska State Historical Society," an or-
ganization now in existence — Robt. W. Furnas, President; James M.
Wool worth and Elmer S. Dundy, Vice-Presidents; Samuel Aughey,
Secretary, and W. W. Wilson, Treasurer, their associates and successors —
be, and the same is hereby recognized as a state institution.
Section 2. That it shall be the duty of the President and Secretary
of said institution to make annually reports to the governor, as required
by other state institutions. Said report to embrace the transactions and
expenditures of the organization, together with all historical addresses,
which have been or may hereafter be read before the Society or funiished
it as historical matter, data of the state or adjacent western regions of
country.
Section 3. That said reports, addresses, and papers shall be pub-
lished at the expense of the state, and distributed as other similar official
reports, a reasonable number, to be decided by the state and Society, to
be furnished said Society for its use and distribution.
Property and Equipment
The present State Historical Society owns in fee simple title as
trustee of the State the half block of land opposite and east of the State
House with the basement thereon. It occupies for offices and working
quarters basement rooms in the University Library building at 11th and
R streets. The basement building at 16th and H is crowded with the
collections of the Historical Society which it can not exhibit, including
some 15,000 volumes of Nebraska newspapers and a large part of its
museum. Its rooms in the University Library building are likewise
crowded with library and museum material. The annual inventory of
its property returned to the State Auditor for the year 1920 is as follows:
Value of Land, V2 block 16th and H $75,000
Value of Buildings and permanent improvements 35,000
Value of Furniture and Furnishings 5,000
Value of Special Equipment, including Apparatus,
Machinery and Tools 1,000
Educational Specimens (Art, Museum, or other) 74,800
Library (Books and Publications) 75,000
Newspaper Collection 52,395
Total Resources $318,195
Much of this property is priceless, being the only articles of their
kind and impossible to duplicate.
wm^
NEBRASKA ,
AND RECORD OF , , . ^.
I-II5TORV
PIONEER 1DJK:^S
Vol. V
April- June, 1922
No. 2
CONTENTS
Editorial Notes
Paul Brothers of St. Paul ....
Military Posts in the West, Fort McPherson
Branding in New England ....
Senator P. W. Hitchcock's Bank Note Report-
er—1860
Chongatonga (Big Horse), Otoe Chief
Letter from Indian Commissioner Manypenny
to Arkee-keetah, Otoe Chief
Early History of Creek Indians
New Years Carriers in Nebraska ...
Portrait of W. J. Bryan ; Address by Hardy
W. Campbell
The Sioux-Pawnee War ; Danish Colony in Hov/ar
Logan County — First Things ....
Editorial Notes
1
17
i
18-20
j
21-22
i
23
i
i
24-25
26
1
27
1
28
t
28
29
i 30
31
i
32
♦
1
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE NEBRASKA STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
LINCOLN
Entered as second class matter February 4, 1918, at the Post Office,
Lincoln, Nebraska, under Act August 24, 1912.
«
THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Founded September 25, 1878
The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded Sep-
tember 25, 1878, at a public meeting held in the Commercial
Hotel at Lincoln. About thirty well known citizens of the
State were present. Robert W. Furnas was chosen president
and Professor Samuel Aughey, secretary. Previous to this date,
on August 26, 1867, the State Historical Society and Library
Association was incorporated in order to receive from the State
the gift of the block of ground, now known as Haymarket
Square. This original Historical Association held no meet-
ings. It was superseded by the present State Historical
Society.
Present Governing Board
Executive Board — Officers and Elected Members
President, Robert Plarvey, Lincoln.
1st V-President, Hamilton B. Lowry, Lincoln
2nd V-President, Nathan P. Dodge Jr., Omaha
Secretary, Addison E. Sheldon, Lincoln
Treasurer, Philip L. Hall, Lincoln
Rev. Macheal A. Shine, Plattsmouth
Don L. Love, Lincoln
Samuel C. Bassett, Gibbon '
John F. Cordeal, McCook i
Novia Z. Snell, Lincoln i
William E. Hardy, Lincoln
Ex Officio Members
Saniuel R. McKelvie, Governor of Nebraska
Samuel Avery, Chancellor of University of Nebraska
Geor,ge C. Snow, Chadron, President of Nebraska Press Association
Howard W. Caldwell, Professor of American History, University of
Nebraska
Andrew M. Morrissey, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Nebraska
Clarence A. Davis, Attorney General of Nebraska
NEBRASKA (1^,1-1 I5TORV
AND RECORD OF , W^^ MkWll^ PIONEER D.AVS
Published Quarterly by the Nebraska State Historical
Soceity
Addison E. Sheldon, Editor
Subscription, $2.00 per year
All sustaining members of the Nebraska State Historical
Nebraska History and other publications without further
Society receive
payment.
Vol
V.
April-June, 1922
No.
2
In the September number of the Wisconsin Magazine of
History, in a history of Platteville, in that state, is the fol-
lowing paragraph of interest to Nebraska readers :
One of our oldest living i-esidents at Platteville is Mr. Frank Rowe,
vi^ho came here in the forties and v^'ho crossed the plains to California
with an ox team in 1852, leaving Platteville on the last day of March.
There were five ox teams in the company. Close to the mouth of Shell
Creek, Nebraska, the company was attacked by Indians, but fortunately
at that moment another company bound for California came in sight. A
corral was quickly made of the wagons, and the oxen, horses, and non-
combatants were put in the center. The battle lasted for a considerable
time, and finally the Indians withdrew leavin,g nine of their number dead.
William J. Holladay was buried in North Loup cemetery June 18.
He was one of the early settlers in that region, conducting a sutler's
store at Fort Hartsuff, the frontier post guarding the early settlements
on the Loup rivers. Later he was sheriff of Valley County.
18
NEBRASKA HISTORY
JAMES N. PAUL
Sept. 23, 1839
March 9, 1922
NICHOLAS J. PAUL
July 27, 1841
July 18, 1921
The Paul Brothers
of St. Paul
NEBRASKA HISTORY 19
THE PAUL BROTHERS OF ST. PAUL
By Robert Harvey
President Nebraska Historical Society
During the past twelve months Nebraska has lost two
pioneers, identified with Nebraska territory and state for
nearly sixty years. Howard county has lost two citizens,
James N. Paul and Nicholas J. Paul, the sponsors for its posi-
tion on the map of the state, first to give to the world its ad-
vantages of location, fertile soil and healthful climate; who
initiated, induced and gave direction to the first tide of a
peaceable and thrifty emigration into the Loup country, thus
giving Howard county character, dignity and an enviable
standing among the counties of the state. Together they se-
cured the severance of sixteen townships from the north part
of Hall county and the passage of a bill in the legislature of
1871 defining the boundaries of Howard county. They pro-
moted its speedy organization. They showed their faith in
the country by more than fifty years of continuous residence
within its boundaries, and by constant, harmonious labor for
the betterment of its citizenship, educational and financial in-
terests. They opened to the world's toilers the door of that
great agricultural region drained by the Loup rivers, compris-
ing the counties of Howard, Greeley, Sherman, Valley, Gar-
field and Loup.
St, Paul, the county seat of Howard County, was named
by U. S. Senator Phineas W. Hitchcock in their honor.
James N. Paul, the older brother, was born in Beaver
County, Pa., September 23, 1839, and soon after the family
moved to Meigs County, Ohio. He served in Company H, 140th
Regiment Ohio Infantry, in the Civil war, after which he came
west and for six or seven years was engaged in government
surveying. In the winter and spring of 1871, with his brother,
he was interested in founding a colony in the Loup river coun-
try in Howard County and took a homestead adjoining St.
Paul which he still owned at the time of his death.
At the permanent organization of the county he was elec-
ted county commissioner for the long term and was the cen-
tral figure in piloting the organization through its infancy to
a stable financial basis which had marked influence in the fu-
ture management of its finances.
In the fall of 1873 he succeeded Seth P. Mobley as pro-
prietor and editor of the Howard County Advocate which he
ably conducted until 1878, when the plant was sold to Robert
Harvey. He then entered upon the practice of law to which he
gave all his time and energy and soon became one of the lead-
ing trial lawyers in central Nebraska. He was a member of
the senate in the legislature of 1885 and was chairman of the
judiciary committee.
20 NEBRASKA HISTORY
In 1901 he became judge of the 11th judicial district
which place he filled with great ability until the expiration of
his term in 1917 when he voluntarily retired on account of
failing health.
He was positive and firm in his convictions, wise in his
counsels and honorable in business transactions.
As pioneer, home builder, lawyer, statesman and jurist he
made a firm and lasting impression upon the people and the
institutions of central Nebraska.
He died at his home in St. Paul March 9th, 1922, at the
age of 82 years, five months and sixteen days.
Nicholas Jay Paul, the younger brother of Judge Paul,
was born in Meigs County, Ohio, July 27, 1841. Receiving an
academic education at Ewington, Ohio, for a time he taught
district school. In the fall of 1862, he moved to Leavenworth
and the following years was engaged in government survey-
ing in southern Nebraska. He was also a trusted employe of
the Union Pacific land department.
He was associated with Judge Paul in founding a colony
in the Loup country and filed a homestead entry on a quarter
section of fine land adjacent to St. Paul where he continued to
live until his death. Mr. Paul was one of the commissioners
appointed to effect the temporary organization of Ho\¥ard
county and at the fall election of 1871 was chosen probate
judge which office he held for four years. In 1876 he was
elected the first representative to the legislature from the
county.
In 1879 he was elected county treasurer and reelected in 1881. After
the expiration of his second term he declined further to be a candidate for
any office, excepting that of school director which he held for forty-eight
years, always manifesting a great interest in educational matters.
In 1884 he purchased the stock of the Howard county bank and soon
after organized the St. Paul National Bank, and in later years changed to
the St. Paul State Bank to which he gave his undivided attention for the
remainder of his life. It was during the dark financial days of the nine-
ties that the rugged honesty of the man was displayed when in despair of
being able to weather the storm of national financial depression he said
he would rather give up all his property and begin over again, than that
any of his depositors should suffer. His bank was considered one of the
substantial institutions of central Nebraska.
He had kept a diary since 1866 in which he briefly recorded his busi-
ness transactions and those who have been permitted to examine his
books have been surprised at the great number of money loans during the
first few years of the colony's early life and the repayment of the same
amount apparently without interest. During those few years, which in-
cluded the years of the grasshopper scourge, there was great destitution
and many families would have suffered great hardships had they not
known where they could go for aid and sympathy. It falls to the lot of
few men in private life to be so generally known and to possess so many
true friends.
He died of apoplexy at hig desk at the noon hour, July 18, 1921, at
the age of 79 years, 11 months and 21 days.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 21
MILITARY POSTS IN THE WEST.
One of the rare volumes upon Western history is circular
No. 8, issued from the Surgeon-General's office, War Depart-
ment, May 1, 1875. It is a report on the hygiene of the United
States army with a description of all military posts and a map.
It is a volume of 570 pages and is now quite out of print and
difficult to find. The volume recently secured by the Ne-
braska State Historical Society was through the kindness of
General Wm. H. Carter, whose letter is printed elsewhere in
this magazine.
The volume contains complete descriptions of all western
army posts, with an account of the surrounding country, tabu-
lation of all buildings, an account of the health of soldiers at
each post and hygienic conditions, diagrams of each fort and
its buildings and a weather record during the history of the
fort.
The forts and camps in Nebraska described in this vol-
ume are Camp Hartsuff, in the North Loup valley, located in
1874; Fort McPherson, in Lincoln county, located in 1866;
North Platte station, Lincoln county established in August
1867; Omaha Barracks, Douglas County, established Novem-
ber 20, 1868; Camp Robinson, Sioux county, established in
February, 1874 ; Camp Sheridan (Spotted Tail Agency) Sheri-
dan county, located September 9, 1874 ; Sidney Barracks, Chey-
enne county, located in 1867.
In addition to these there is a chapter each upon
these forts inseparably connected with the history of
Nebraska: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Laramie, Wyo-
ming; Fort Randall, South Dakota.
Most interesting detailed information is given of living
conditions for the population of these forts. This includes
such details as the number of cubic feet for each person in
living rooms, the kinds of diseases and number of cases at
each post, the methods of heating, water and ice supply, bath-
rooms, garden products, libraries and scientific observations
upon conditions which could be made only by trained medi-
cal observers.
Fort Kearny, the most important military post in Ne-
braska during the frontier period, was abandoned in 1871 and
therefore does not appear in this report. Fort McPherson in
1875 was still a post of importance and the description of the
buildings and conveniences there are of interest:
The buildings are arranged about a quadrangle 844 by
560 feet. Two sides are formed by five barracks, three log
and two frame; one (log, shingled-roof) 145 by 27 feet, with
wings of 87 by 20 feet; one (frame, shingle-roof, unoccupied,
and out of repair) 108 feet by 27 feet, with a wing of 69 by
20 feet; one (log, shingle-roof, unoccupied) 114 by 27 feet,
22 NEBRASKA HISTORY
with wing 69 by 20 feet; one (frame, shingle-roof) 147 by 27
feet, with wing of 69 by 20 feet, and another (log, shingle-
roof) 132 by 30 feet, with no wing. Each building contains
eighteen windows, and compartments used as dormitories, or-
derly-rooms, dining and cooking rooms. The dormitories are
ceiled. Average air-space per man in two buildings occupied
at present is 698 cubic feet. Single iron bedsteads are used.
Ventilation is by windows and roof -ventilators.
One side is occupied by officers' quarters-frame, lathed
and plastered, with shingle-roofs — in good repair. Three
single buildings, 42 by 20 feet ; four double 54 by 20 feet ; one
commanding officer's, 65 by 24 feet. Two single buildings, 40
by 20 feet, are on a line with hospital, in the rear of the main
line of officers' quarters. All have kitchens 24 by 15 feet.
The fourth side is occupied by the adjutant's office, (new)
41 by 30 feet; quartermaster's office, (new) 36 by 30 feet;
the commissary storehouse, (new), 96 by 25 feet; and the
band quarters, (new) 52 by 22 feet; with wing 90 by 19 feet.
In the rear of the barracks are the quartermaster's ware-
house, (log) 132 by 30 feet; the forage building, (log), 130
by 27 feet, and six laundresses' houses, (five log and one
in an account of the construction of the building, says, "Three
frame;) two, 40 by 24 feet; one 30 by 15 feet; one, 40 by 18
feet, with wing 24 by 15 feet; one 60 by 18 feet; one, 30 by
15 feet, with wing 12 by 15 feet; aiso,the cavalry stables, log
with shingle-roofs; four, 200 by 30 feet, and one, 235 by 30
feet.
A new guard-house was erected in 1874. It is built of
logs, 42 by 18 feet, and 9 feet high from floor to ceiling, and
contains, besides a guard room, ten single cells, each 6 by 3
feet, and one double cell, 6 by 6 feet. There is no general
prison-room. Ventilation is sufficient.
The post-bakery (log) is 45 by 30 feet, with large oven.
The hospital is a log building, well chinked and plastered,
with lathed and plastered ceilings and shingle-roof. It con-
sists of a main building 69 by 20 feet, and a wing 56 by 20
feet, forming an "L".
The two ward-rooms, respectively 20 by 38 feet and 20
by 20 feet will accommodate twenty-four patients, giving to
each 466 cubic feet air-space. The dispensary is 20 by 12 feet,
the steward's room 10 by 20 feet, and the dining room and
store room are each 20 feet square. The washroom 8V2 by 15
feet, adjoins the larger ward. The steward's quarters have a
kitchen 14 by 20 feet, adjoining. The hospital kitchen, 16 by
20 feet, communicates with the dining room in the wing of
the building. An addition of a post-mortem room has been
made.
There is no post library; but two company libraries, one
containing 362 volumes, the other 26 volumes.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 23
The bathing facilities are good in company quarters ; the
river, however is preferable in summer. No post or company
order for compulsory and systematic bathing has been issued.
BRANDING IN THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES
Whereas many questions, and sometimes troublesomi'
suites grow betwixt men, about horses running together in
the woods unmarked, It is ordered, That each plantation in
this jurisdiction shall have a marking iron, or flesh-brand, for
themselves in particular, to distinguish the horses of on^
plantation from another; namely, New-hav-en an iron made
to set on the impression of an H, as a brand-mark, Milford an
M, Guilford a G, Stamford an S, Southold an S with an 0 in
the middle of it, Brainford a T. Which plantation brandmark,
is to be visibly and as sufficiently as may be, set upon the near
buttock of each horse, mare, and colt, belonging to that plan-
tation. Beside which, every owner is to have, and marke his
horse or horses, with his own particular flesh-brand having
some letter, or letters of his name, or such distinguishing mark,
that one man's horses may be known from another's. And
that in each plantation there be an officer appointed, to record
each particular man's mark, and to see each particular man's
horse, mare, and colt, branded, and to take notice, and record
the age of each of them, as near as he can, with the colour,
and all observable marks, whether natural or artificial; and
what artificial marks it had before the branding, whether on
the ear, or elsewhere, with the year and day of the month when
branded. And in each plantation, the officer for his care and
pains, to have six pence of the owner, for each horse, mare, or
colt, so branded and recorded. And that after the publishing
hereof, every one who hath any horse or horses, of what age
or kind soever, doe duly attend this order, at his perill; the
officer also is to require as satisfying evidence of his right,
who presents any such horse, etc. as may be had, or to record
any defect of due evidence, that a way may be open to other
claims.
New Haven Code (pub. 1655.) probably 1643 in use, Trum-
bull—Blue Laws, p. 227.
From Phil. R. Landon, "North Acre Seedsman," at Sterling, Nebraska:
The statement in "Nebraska History" that "no earthwork, mound,
lodge site or human bones, along this part of the Missouri river has
been there 1,000 years," is correct ,so far as my examination and obser-
vation go. In fact, bones and stone work that I have du,g up in Nebraska
in the past forty years have proved to me that they were not more than
a century old. One instance was in my digging on North Acre. I came
upon the bones of an Indian and white man buried together, and among
the bones was a belt buckle with the letters U. S. A. upon it. If liiere
were any "pre-historic" men in Nebraska I will have to be shown."
24
NEBRASKA HISTORY
B A ^ K \ O H' I*:
DESCRIPTIVE LIST,
I
► >' i
(I Ijompsmi^s Bank JUtf iV dLommcrcial ^ilfpuvtfr.
• (untiijim; u(1R\tk hksihiptioxs (ir ui. the
(Tomiino Ba uk N btes,
•* *> ■ '^ ,
S« RSCRIBKU.S WH«» n^^ V <> N K V K A )! !>• \ D V- A N (? K
■ v..\, ^^.- ^ ■ V
mOMPSON BROTHEES, B/LNKEBS;; . Ij , j
PUBLIRHEiD BY CHAS BLONDKLF; lir FRAVKLIN^^^Ti
NEBRASKA HISTORY
25
OT«rfookingcltT.
26, bun. Indian, female, children, globe-
Indian squaw, w Ith bow and arrow*— 2, portrait
of boy. „ „
3s. two females, cows, sheep, factory— 3, 3—
flying female, cars, canal, &c.
KANSAS TEREITOKY.
Knnaas Valley Bonk, Atchison.
3s, two wild horses running, horses In dla-
ance-3, female portrait— 3, pigs.
55,Indian on horse shooting buffaloes— .5,male
portrait— 5, portrait of girl holding dove.
iOs, right end, 10, steamboai, river, ftc-
left end, 10, cars, X on shield.
20s. emigrants, oxen, horses, wagons, ac —
20, male portrait— 20, female seated on either
side of shield.
50s, steamboat, city in distance— iO, male
porti-ait- 50, sailor with hand on capstan, bar-
rels, bales, Slc , vessels in distance.
100s, spread eagle on shield— 100, male por-
trart— C, male portrait.
NEBRASKA TEERITORY.
SENATOR P. W. HITCHCOCK'S BANK NOTE REPORTER,
USED IN 1860
Phineas W. Hitchcock was United
States Senator from Nebra.ska from 1871
to 1877. He was the father of our pres-
ent Senator Gilbert M. Hitchcock. Sen-
ator P. W. Hitchcock was one of the
leading spirits in the pioneer period of
Nebraska history. He was the author
and introducer of the Timber Culture Act
passed by Congress in 1874. His name
is forever associated with the great en-
terprises of the empire builders of the
trans-Missouri region.
In the Nebraska historical library is
now a copy of Thompson's Bank Note
and Commercial Reporter, published in
1860. A fac-simile of the title page of
this historical document is printed upon
the opposite page of this magazine. The
picture shows the name of P. W. Hitch-
cock written thereon. A loop at its upper
left-hand comer shows where it was
hung to a hook in Mr. Hitchcock's office
for ready reference. The scattered spots
across the title page are evidence to the
historical student of the existence of files
in the business offices of pioneer Ne-
braskans.
Thompson's Reporter was a necessity
for every business man in the United
States in the period of state bank note
circulation. It describes and gives pic-
tures of all the foreign coins likely to
circulate in the United States and there
were many of them. It also ogives fac-
similes of many of the state bank note
issues of that period and a description of
all of them. There were hundreds of
banks under state charters issuing cur-
rency under various degrees of regulation.
Before a merchant dared accept a curren-
cy bill he needed to look up the stand-
ing of these banks and examine the notes
offered for possible counterfeits, of which there were many. So this early
Nebraska book is of very rare value, made all the more so by bearing the
signature of the first Senator Hitchcock.
Upon this page is given a half-tone of the page of Senator Hitch-
cock's Bank Note Reporter which shows the bank notes in circulation in
Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory in 1860. It will be observed
that only one Kansas Bank, the Kansas Valley Bank, of Atchison, had
its notes listed in the Bank Note Reporter of 1860. For Nebraska Ter-
ritory the space is significantly vacant. There were plenty of Nebraska
wildcat banks issuin,g paper currency in the period between 1855 and 1857.
Over $400,000 in paper currency was issued by these Nebraska banks.
These notes are -still found occasionally in the papers of early Nebraska
pioneers. They are interesting to museum collectors. In the Nebraska
Historical Society museum are many of these early wildcat notes. But
the editor of Thompson's Bank Note Reporter in 1860 ruled all these Ne-
braska bank notes issued out of his publication. This Historical Society
is indebted to Mr. C. A. Westerfield, 3116 Mason Street, Omaha, for this
valuable addition to its library.
CANADA.
26 NEBRASKA HISTORY
SOME DISTINGUISHED OTOE CHIEFS
P'rom Attorney Edwin R. McNeill, of Pawnee City, Okla.:
Chongatonga, (now spelled Shunatona by the Indian Office, which is
not correct) or Bi,g Horse was born about 1838. He was named after
his grandfather, the head chief of the tribes who made a peace and
friendship treaty in 1817. When Shunk-co-pe died he left two minor
sons — Cha-doe-nah-ye, or Standing Buffalo, who afterwards took the
name of James Arkeketa, Sr., and Chon-ga-tong-a, or Big Horse. Chon-
,gatonga was a brave and every war party gotten up he was always
selected as a scout.
His activities in battles won for him the divine right to wear two
eagle feathers upon his scalp, which was considered the highest honor
that could be conferred upon a brave. As a brave he earned for himself
a name among his people. His brother, who was older than he, was a
chief and took the name of Arkeketa.
In those days it was the custom of the various Indian Agents to
appoint as policemen of the agency the braves of the tribes, so when the
Otoes settled down, he was appointed as a policeman. When part of
the tribes under Chiefs Medicine Horse and White Horn left their former
reservation in Nebraska and moved to the Indian Teri'itory, Chongatonga
came, because he had favored the proposition of moving to the lands set
apart for all of the peaceful Indians.
When the rest of the tribes finally gave their consent, some of the
chiefs were delegated to come and look over the land and choose their
home. His brother, James Arkeketa, was on e of those to come and he
returned with his brother to assist him.
He was a policeman up to the time of his death and for his efficiency
and faithfulness to his duties he was appointed a chief of the tribes by
the Indian Office and approved by the Interior Department on July 6,
1886. He took sick soon after he became a chief and died in the fall of
1887.
Richard William Shunatona (Chongatonga) was born upon the plains
of western Nebraska, while the Otoes were on their annual fall hunt for
buffaloes in 1876.
From the words of Shunk-co-pe, that the only chance for the red
man was to go to school and learn to move the head, the hand, the feet,
the body, and the tongue like the white man, and also from his own ex-
perience as a policeman, he saw, so he wanted his son to receive some
education.
He sent him to the boarding school at Otoe and when he finished
the grades he sent him to Chilocco Indian School, from which school he
graduated in 1896.
After graduation he entered the government service as a clerk, but
resigned on account of the race prejudice in the work.
He became a chief and was acknowledged as one of the leading men
of the tribes. He knew the ways because he was raised in the council
fires.
He is the head of the buffalo clan and has represented his tribes as
a delegate to Washington several times and is now one of the five men
selected by the Superintendent to act as a Committee to transact all
tribal business wuth the government.
He is. married to a Pawnee and they have eight children who are
being educated in the public schools of Pawnee, Okla. His children do
not understand their Indian tongue.
He is of good royal blood from both sides and therefore he is one
and belon,gs to the aristocratic families of the tribes.
(Editor's Note) The treaty of peace and friendship between the
United States and the Otoe tribe signed December 26, 1817 is signed by
William Clark, Auguste Choteau, Benjamin 0' Fallon. Manuel Lisa, Jo-
seph LaFIesche (interpreter) and by Chongaton,ga (Big Horse) among
the Otoe chiefs.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 27
LETTER FROM INDIAN COMMISSIONER MANYPENNY
To Department of the Interior,
Ar-kee-kee-tah, Office Indian Affairs,
or March 20, 1854.
Stay By It.
Principal Chief of the Confederate Bands of OTTOE
and MISSOURI Indians
Having conckided the business which brought you here,
I deem it my duty on your departure for your home, to ex-
press to you my approbation of your official conduct while
here, and to commend the interest you have shown for the
Ottoe and Missouri people.
On your return to the Ottoes and Missourias, you will find
many perplexities and difficulties ; but by constant persever-
ance and a firm determination to do right at all times and un-
der all circumstances, you will be sustained in all your efforts
for the civilization of your people; and it may be allotted to
you to yet see them in quite an advanced state of intellectual
improvement, and each family comfortably situated.
Enjoin on them habits of industry. Teach them to abhor
idleness and the accompanying vices — such as gambling and
the like.
Urge them to cease the use of ardent spirits, for intem-
perance is their greatest enemy.
Encourage the young to go to school. And let all fear
God and keep his commandments.
A great responsibility rests on you and the other Chiefs
— and I ardently hope you may all be found equal to any
emergency that may arise in your country and among your
people.
I cannot impress too strongly on you the necessity of at
all times conducting yourself properly. Your example should
be such as to inspire your people with confidence. Much de-
pends on this. I confidently hope you will appreciate the deep
responsibility that rests on you, and set an example of dili-
gence, temperance, patience and kindness before your people.
I will often think of you when far, far away, and shall
be anxious to hear the news from your country, hoping that
it may always be good.
Your friend,
GEO. W. MANYPENNY.
Commissioner.
The original of the above interesting historical document is now in
the museum of the Nebraska State Historical Society. It is presented by
Richard William Shunatona, representative of this Society to the Otoe
tribe. Mr. Shunatona is very much interested in the work of this Society
and especially in preservation of the history and traditions of the Otoe
tribe. The story of his family on the opposite page of this magazine is
an interesting contribution to this history.
28 NEBRASKA HISTORY
EARLY HISTORY OF THE CREEK INDIANS
John R. Swanton is one or the most painstaking students
and attractive writers upon American Indians. His latest
book is bulletin 73 of the Bureau of American Ethnology —
just issued. The book gives a condensed story of the Creak
tribe from their first contact with white people. The tribe
was one of those encountered by the Spanish explorer, Ferdi-
nand De Soto, in 1539. They then lived in the Georgia region,
had well-built villages, cultivated fields and were fierce and
warlike. Ever since that time the Creeks have been among
the bravest of the southern tribes. General Jackson found
them such in his Indian campaigns.
For Nebraska readers Mr. Swanton's last volume has
chief interest from its account of the Siouan tribes on the At-
lantic coast. These tribes, related by blood and language to
the Nebraska Otoe, Omaha, Ponca and Sioux tribes, have al-
most disappeared. They have been the subject of special stor-
ies by Mr. Mooney and the facts brought out by him go far to
confirm the traditions of the Nebraska tribes that their an-
cestors journeyed a long distance from the east into the Miss-
issippi valley and thence up the Missouri to their home in this
state.
A valuable feature of Mr. Swanton's book is a series of
ten maps showing the location of the various southern Indian
tribes as described by the early white explorers and their
gradual migration westward to their present home in Okla-
homa.
J. H. Sweet, editor of the Nebraska City Daily Press, writes the fol-
lowing very interesting comment on the custom of New Year's Carriers
address. We hope other editors will give their recollections and present
practice :
I was very much interested in your article on "Carriers' Addresses"
wliich appeared in a recent copy of "Nebraska History." You wonder
why the custom did not survive.
The custom does survive in Nebraska City. Our carriers take out
with them on each New Year's Day an "address' for their patrons. Us-
ually the boys are rewarded. The "Address," however, is somewhat dif-
ferent from that which was in vogue in the early sixties and seventies
and has more utilitarian purpose. It is usually a calendar or something
of that sort.
I have tried to stop the custom, but I have found it almost impossible
to do so. The carriers expect it and the patrons, good naturedly, have
asked that it be continued. Personally, I have felt that the boys' monthly-
compensation should be sufficient, but, apparently, my opinion has not
been affirmed by the higher court.
I wonder if these addresses are still given out by other newspaper
carriers — that is, in other portions of the state.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 29
PORTRAIT OF WM. J. BRYAN
From Mrs. Josephine Hull, of Los Angeles, California, the
Historical Society recently received the gift of a fine portrait
of William J. Bryan, and this letter :
Yours received and was glad to know you received the
picture of Wm, J. Bryan all right. In regard to how I came to
make it was through request of Miss Butterfield, superintend-
ent of the Art department of the Nebraska building at the
Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha, who came to my Stu-
dio and asked me to paint several life size portraits to be ex-
hibited there, as the Nebraska Artists' donation, I being a resi-
dent of Nebraska at that time, 1898, and as my husband and
I were great admirers of William J., we took it with us to Cal-
ifornia— but since his death, and my son's wife's death, am at
present here with him.
The portraits were done in water color and India ink, and
were of ex-senator Allen of Madison, Nebraska, Governor Hol-
comb, ex-Governor Dawes of Crete, Nebraska, and ex-Senator
Alhson of Iowa, which hung in the Goveraor's parlors during
the Fair, except that of Governor Holcomb which they draped
in flags and hung it on balcony, over fountain in center of main
building, opposite entrance, and also selected my five, from
the many and hung them over the speakers opening day.
Should there be any other information, would gladly give it.
JOSEPHINE HULL.
AN ADDRESS BY HARDY W. CAMPBELL
At Alliance on February 15 deserves place in the historical record.
The subject of his address was ''Summer Tillage" and was a condensa-
tion of twenty-five years experiment and experience west of the Missouri
River. Mr. Campbell was not the inventor, nor the discoverer, of what
is called "Dry Farming." He was and is its chief publicity agent and
promoter. The plan in its essential features was used in California,
Utah, and other dry regions many years before it was tried by Mr. Camp-
bell in South Dakota and brought to Nebraska by him in the early nine-
ties. A propaganda, organized by Mr. Campbell and others, had its
chief center of distribution in Lincoln, the home of Mr. Campbell for a
number of years. The vast literature upon dry farming, now filling
thousands of printed pages, started here. Looking back over thirty
years it can now be seen what a great movement then began. The high
plains of western Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado have become the
homes of thousands of successful farmers. The scientific methods for
raising crops on scant rainfall, and their limitations, are now fairly well
established. Successful crops cannot be grown in the absence of water.
Hot winds like those of 1894 and little rainfall as in 1910 will reduce dry
farming yields below the point of profit. But the avera,ge yield in aver-
age years may be doubled and trebled by the application of present dry
farming methods. H. W. Campbell, as the largest contributor to the prac-
tice and the propaganda of this method, deserves high rank in the future
history of Nebraska. His present residence is at Los Angoles where he
is in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad. A daugnter, JMrs. A.
E. Yarter, lives at Alliance.
30 NEBRASKA HISTORY
THE SIOUX-PAWNEE WAR.
Mr. S. C. Bassett ,a member of the Historical Society board, and one
of the most discriminating students of Nebraska history, adds his per-
sonal recollection to the story of the last battle field of the Sioux-
Pawnee war in a recent letter:
In the last Historical Society quarterly I have just been reading
with much pleasure and interest every item of a historical nature, and
especially "The Last Nebraska Battlefield of the Sioux-Pawnee War."
The Pawnee hunting expedition route in 1873, from the reservation
to the hunting grounds, was up the Platte valley following the public
highw-ay which ran close beside the Union Pacific railroad. We were liv-
ing on our homestead claim a mile distant from this highway. James
Ogiivie, station agent at Gibbon, informed us that hundreds of Pawnee
Indians were coming up the Platte valley going on an annual buffalo
hunt on the divide between the Platte and Republican rivers. Train men
reported that the Indians had camped, the night before, at a point east
of the present village of Shelton, and our family all went to che high-
way to see them pass by. It was about the middle of the forenoon when
Indians first appeared. First were several hundred Indian men, mount-
ed on ponies. Following were ponies dragging tepee poles on which
were the camp equipage, these in charge of the women. Bringing up the
rear were hundreds of loose ponies driven by the Indian boys and girls.
The procession was more than a mile in length and all our people
were deeply interested. It was reported the Indians crossed the Platte
near Plum Creek (now Lexington). The divide west of Ft. Kearny and
south of the Platte was the last stand of buffalo in Nebraska and very
many of our people had hunted the buffalo in that region.
We first learned of the Sioux-Pawnee battle when hundreds of
Pawnees v/ere hauled in box cars and on top of freight cars, on the
Union Pacific railroad from Plum Creek to a point near the reservation.
From P. M. Hannibal — Howard County.
We came here from Wisconsin in 1871 when there was not a build-
ing in this county. About 200 Pawnee Indians camped on the Loup
River within a mile of our Danish Colony that numbered only 20 per-
sons and the Sioux were not far away and we were not sure but they
might come any day. They never troubled us but they did threaten our
friends in Valley County who took claims up there in 1872. The Sioux
got so close that all the Danes up there left their claims to come doAvii
here to stay with us a while. But on their way down the North Loup
they met a lot of soldiers going up with a gan,g of workers to build a
fort! That settled the Sioux problem for them and for us! Later, Jeppe
Smith became first postmaster of Ord. The post office was on his claim
about four miles above where it is now. Peter Morteusen, late state
treasurer, was the first school district treasurer there. I w^as the first
teacher here, helphig some other Danes to learn good English. I taught
the first and second terms of school up there. Andersen, Mortensen and
Smith were here before they went up there. We had many a good talk
together — "Li the days when we were pioneers — fifty years ago." We
got our postoffice here in 1872. Before that our neai*est postoffice was
Grand Island, with no roads or bridges. We forded the Loup with oxen
and got over the sloughs and sand hills the best we could. "In God we
trust," was our motto and God helped us all the way.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 31
LOGAN COUNTY— FIRST THINGS.
The Gandy Pioneer gives the followinc: as among the first happen-
ings in the history of white men in Logan county. Although pjssessing
a fine body of rich, black, table land and splendid water, the Logan
county region was flanked by sand hills and out of the beaten path of
land seekers. It was not until the middle eighties, after the construc-
tion of the Burlington road across Custer county, that homesteaders
settled in considerable numbers in Logan. This record of the earliest
settlement deserves wider knowledge and additional detail. It would be
quite worth while to know something of the life of Thomas Kirby, the
pioneer hunter and trapper:
Thomas Kirby, hunter and trapper, in the summer of 1873, built the
first house in Logan county. It was built on the north bank of the
Loup River, three-quarters of a mile north of the town of Logan. This
house was part dug and part made of cedar logs, theie being a big
grove of these in the canyon near by.
The canyons surrounding the Clark table were a favorite place for
black tailed deer and wild horses ran,ged on the table land.
In the early days beaver were plenty, also a few otter. They d'd
not bother to trap musk rats as there were plenty of the more valuable
and larger fur beai'ing animals.
In 1876 Charlie Ewing, as part of a cattle company organized at Co-
lumbus, Nebraska, brought in a car load of Texas cattle and built a
frame house on the north side of the Loup one mile east of Logan, on
the land now known as the M. Laughler farm. This was the first frame
house built in Logan County.
The Camp Fire girls of Sutton celebrated Arbor Day by planting a
red cedar tree to mark the spot where the iirst white man lived at that
place. The man was Luther French who homesteaded in 1870 and built
a dug-out on the south bank of School Creek. A secret room was dug
with the dugout where his children could hide from Indians when the
father was away huntin,g. Underground rooms were common in the
early period of settlement. At the old Fouse ranch on Beaver Creek, a
station on the Nebraska City-Denver trail, there was a large underground
stable capable of holding a hundred head of stock. This was constructed
for defense against Indian attacks, although hostile Indian raids never
quite reached the ranch. The "underground fort" at the Fouse ranch
is one of the outstanding remembrances of the editor's childhood.
V. J. McGonigle of Jackson, Nebraska, is writing a most interesting
series of letters in the Dakota City Herald upon the early white history
of that region. Mr. McGoni,gle is a new member of the Historical So-
ciety and promises important help in preserving historical material in
that region.
W. A. Anderson settled near Ord on February 1, 1879. There are
only a few settlers of that period now living. He is the donor of im-
portant early implements to our museum.
A letter from Abraham Lincoln to Judge Reavis of Falls City, father
of Congressman Frank Reavis, dated November 5, 1855, is one of the
documents treasured in the Reavis family. An extract from the letter
reads "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more
important than anything else."
32 NEBRASKA HISTORY
In the soldiers' plat in the San Diego cemetery, I recently came across
a grave marked with one of the regulation marble markers, such as are
furnished by the government for soldiers, and also with a granite mon-
ument. The marker bears this inscription:
"George P. Hall
Co. B., 2nd Neb. Cav."
The monument bears the following inscription:
"George P. Hall.
April 22, 1841— May 12, 1915
Mary Elizabeth Hall
His wife
Dec. 28, 1847. ."
GEORGE J. REMSBURG,
San Diego, Cal.
A letter from Hon. F. F. Haase, of Emerson, President of the Farm-
ers' State Bank and senator from that district in 1917, adds his name to
the membership list of the State Historical Society.
The Daughters of the American Revolution in Lincoln have placed a
complete set of the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Historixral
Library. Mrs. Elsie Mastermann has contributed typewritten copies of
the Tedrow and Mastermann families for the manuscript files. The li-
brarian desires to acknowledge receipt of gifts from Mr. Dale P. Stough,
Mrs. H. R. Fling, Mr. George J. Remsburg, Mr. N. J. Anderson, Mr. T.
N. Bobbitt, and the Deborah Avery Chapter, D. A. R.
Mr. George F. Smith of Waterbury, sends a note upon the death of
Augustus H. Surber who died there June 15, 1922. He enlisted at 16
years of age in Co. E, Fourth Iowa Infantry, serving three years. He
settled in Dixon county in 1883 and was the last surviving veteran of
the Civil War at that place.
John Louis Dougherty, vice-president of the Commercial Bank at
Liberty, Missouri, writes us a most interesting letter relating to his fam-
ily. His father was Lewis B. Dougherty, son of John Dougherty, early
Indian trader and United States agent to the Nebraska Indians in the
period 1820-1840. His aunt, Annie Elizabeth Dougherty, was born at
Fort Atkinson, Aug. 29, 1824 and was therefore one of the first white
children born in Nebraska. She married Charles F. Ruff of the United
States Army, in 1842 and had four children, three of whom are still liv-
ing. She died in Philadelphia, July 11, 1909. The old military records of
Fort Atkinson do not give reports of the births at that frontier post,
but the editor of this magazine hopes to establish by other reliable evi-
dence the birth of the first white child in the present Nebraska region,
who may be Annie Elizabeth Dougherty.
Casper Stork, eighty-one, died at Arlington April, 1922. Mr. Stork
was a member of the Quincy colony, movin,g from the city of that name
in Illinois to Fontanelle in 1858 and has resided there ever since.
Charles W. Pear&all, court reporter at Omaha, finished thirty-five
years service in that profession April 11, 1922. Mr. Pearsall has reported
some of the most important trials held in Nebraska, including the Yocum
murder trial in the Dismal river region, the Comstock-Richards land
fraud cases, Mabray frauds, the Union Pacific mail robbery at Seymour
and many others.
STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, CIRCULA-
TION, ETC., REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF
CONGRESS OF AUGUST 24, 1912
Of
Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days, published quarterly at
Lincoln, Nebr., for April, 1922.
State of Nebraska, County of Lancaster, ss.
Before me, a Notary Public in and for the State and county afore-
said, personally appeared A, E. Sheldon, who, having been duly sworn
according to law, deposes and says that he is the Managing Editor of
the Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days, and that the follow-
ing is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a ti-ue statement of the
ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation), etc., of
the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, re-
quired by the Act of August 24, 1912, embodied in section 443, Postal
Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit:
1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, manag-
ing editor, and business managers are;
Publisher, Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebr.
Editor, A. E. Sheldon, Lincoln ,Nebr.
Managing Editor, A. E. Sheldon, Lincoln, Nebr.
Business Managers, A, E. Sheldon, Lincoln, Nebr.
2. That the owners are: Nebraska State Historical Society,
3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security
holders owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds,
mortgages, or other securities are: None.
4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the
owners, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the
list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books
of the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security hold-
er appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other
fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such
trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain
statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the cix*-
cumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders
who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock
and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner; and
this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association,
or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds,
or other securities than as so stated by him.
A. E. SHELDON, Editor.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of April 1922.
(SEAL) MAX WESTERMANN, Notary Public.
(My Commission expires Aug. 4, 1927.)
NEBRASKA
-y^-^
AND RECORD OF ,
Vol. V
HISTORV
PIONEER DAVS
July-S«ptember, 1922
No. 3
CONTENTS
The Nebraska G. A. R 33
Chalk Bluff or Happy Jack 34
Freighting — Buffalo Breeding — Pawnee Squaw 35
Skull Creek, Butler County 36
Crist Anderson — Josiah Miner — G. F. Smith . 37
Good Old Man — H. W. Brown — Jacob Adriance 38
Whitney Village, Dawes County 39-40
General John M. Thayer 41-46
Site of Plum Creek Massacre 47-48
Death of Mrs. John Pilcher 49
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE NEBRASKA STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
LINCOLN
Entered as second class matter February 4, 1918, at the Post Office,
Lincoln, Nebraska, under Act August 24, 1912.
THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Made a State Institution February 27, 1883.
An act of the Nebraska legislature, recommended by Governor
James W. Dawes in his inau??ural and signed by him, made the State
Historical Society a State institution in the following:
Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Nebraska:
Section 1. That the "Nebraska State Historical Society," an or-
ganization now in existence — Robt. W. Furnas, President; James M.
Woolworth and Elmer S. Dundy, Vice-Presidents; Samuel Aughey,
Secretary, and W. W. Wilson, Treasurer, their associates and successors —
be, and the same is hereby recognized as a state institution.
Section 2. That it shall be the duty of the President and Secretary
of said institution to make annually repoi-ts to the governor, as required
by other state institutions. Said report to embrace the transactions and
expenditures of the organization, together with all historical addresses,
which have been or may hereafter be read before the Society or furnished
it as historical m.atter, data of the state or adjacent western regions of
country.
Sertion 3. That saxl reports, addresses, and papers shall be pub-
lished at the expense of the state, and distributed as other similar official
reports, a reasonable number, to be decided by the state and Society, to
be furnished said Society for its use and distribution.
Property, and Equipment
The present State Historical Society owns in fee simple title as
trustee of the State the half block of land opposite and east of the State
House with the basement thereon. It occupies for offices and working
quarters basement rooms in the University Library building at 11th and
R streets. The basement building at 16th and H is crowded with the
collection-^ of the Historical Society which it can not exhibit, including
some 15,000 volum.es of Nebraska newspapers and a large part of its
museum. Its rooms in the University Library building are likewise
crowded with library and museum material. The annual inventory of
its property returned to the State Auditor for the year 1920 is a? follows:
Value of Land, Vs block 16th and H $75,000
Value of Buildings and perinanent improvement.s 35,000
Value of Furniture and Furnishings 5,000
Value of Special Equipment, including Apparatus,
Machinery and Tools 1,000
Educational Specimens (Art, Museum, or other) 74,800
Library (Books and Publications) 75,000
Newspaper Collection 52,395
Total Resources $318,195
Much of this property is priceless, being the only articles of their
kind and impossible to duplicate.
NEBRASKA , . HI5TORV
yVND RECORD OF \ ., PIONEER D^AiVS
. sji k.- A
•^^^^^^'"' >tF'
;• '. ''"tiS^Tr^r"'^^^^^'
Published Quarterly by the Nebraska Historical Society
Addison E. Sheldon,
Editor
Subscription, $2.00 per year
All
sustaining
Nebraska
members of the Nebraska State His
History and other publications without
torical
further
Society receive
payment.
Vol
V
July-September
1922
No.
3
The Grand Army of the Republic in Nebraska marches on with the
flag, its ranks greatly diminished. State Adjutant Harmon Bross gives
the present numbers as 149 posts and 1,731 members. Thirty years ago
there were 350 posts and nearly 10,000 members. During the year 1922
156 members passed on. Five posts in the state disbanded during the
year for lack of membership. Under arrangements made by Adjutant
Bross the original records of posts now disbanded are taken in charge by
the State Historical Society and carefully preserved for future histori-
cal use. A hundred years from now these records will be regarded as
treasures of the greatest importance, equal in interest and value to those
of the Revolutionary War. We are yet too near the period of the Civil
War adequately to estimate the importance to America and to the world
of its results. One thought gives a clue to this. America has become
the strongest nation in the world, its influence the most powerful in world
councils. The influence of America for the peace and good will of the
nations is the great hope of the world. How different all this if our
great country had been permanently divided by secession.
Peter Berlet died at Auburn, January 27, 1923, aged 82. He was
born in France, settled in Nemaha county in 1866 and had a long, success-
ful and influential career. He was a member of the Nebraska House of
Representatives in 1899 and of the senate in 1901. He was one of a
group of French speaking Nebraskans in Nemaha and Richardson coun-
ties, where the natives of France and of Germany dwell in peace side by
side, even in time of World War.
NEBRASKA HISTORY
CHALK BLUFF OR HAPPY JACK
A Land Mark in the North Loup Valley
The Seventh Day Baptist people settled at North Loup
fifty years ago. They were an industrious, God-fearing folk,
intelligent, inclined to read, rather set in their religious faith
and willing to debate the subject with any one who was rash
enough to run the risk. They made a settlement that "stuck."
The beautiful farms were opened along the valley. The more
adventurous climbed the hills and made good there. Theirs
was the common experience of pioneers in Nebraska fifty years
ago. The grasshopper made his abode with them. The
Sioux Indians occasionally raided down the Loup. Dry weath-
er and hot winds encouraged religious zeal by removing the
temptation of much earthly possessions.
But the Seventh Day people stayed on, worshipping God
after their own conscience and hanging out their washing Sun-
day morning. So they plan to celebrate their fiftieth anniver-
sary at North Loup next August and expect to have a great
homecoming of the children and friends from the four quar-
ters of the world and the seven seas. The Bulletin of the
Seventh Day Baptist Church at North Loup is an eight page
periodical which brings this news to the Historical Society li-
brary. It brings also on its front page a picture of Chalk
Bluff or Happy Jack, which is a bold hill on the North Loup
river so chalky white that it may be seen for many miles. It
tells this tale of the bluff:
"Happy Jack Swearenger, a trapper and government scout
lived at one time in a dugout below this bluff, which gave it
the name of Happy Jack. It is said that as Mr. Rood, pioneer
Seventh Day Baptist, was hurrying back to camp after his
initial trip to the top of the bluff, he stumbled over Happy
Jack who was fast asleep on one of the cat steps on the side of
the bluff. Immediately he found himself facing Happy Jack's
gun but as soon as the scout saw the situation Mr. Rood was
allowed to go unmolested."
The Bulletin further exhorts with the following invita-
tion:
"Come and tell us of your experience with poverty, home-
sickness, drouth, grasshoppers, blizzards, prairie fires, hunt-
ing, fighting, dugouts, leaky sod houses, and don't- forget the
fleas."
G. B. Pavey died at Grand Island December 10, 1922 in his 70th
year. He came to Nebraska in July 1858, and has been a continuous
resident.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 35
Freighting from the Missouri river to the mouatains was a favor-
its and almost universal means of existence for Nebraska settlers in the
territorial period. It was the one occupation which brought in money
to many a log cabin home and enabled the family to stick by their land.
One by one the old Nebraska freighters pass on. Peace to their mem-
ory. Many a time the writer of these lines has been given a free ride
by the bull-whackers of the freighting outfits on the old well-traveled
trail leading from Nebraska City to Fort Kearny and the mountains.
They Weie fast-disappearing from the trail then, as the railroads push-
ed westward taking their job away from them. Often the writer has
listened to their complaint that the railroads were ruining the Nebras-
ka country, driving the freighting wagons off tlie trail, taking away the
market of the early ranchmen and — worst of all — bringing in an alien
population untrained in the fine art of hospitality and fellowship wliich
followed the overland trails from the beginning. These musings and
memories started by noting the death of Jacob M. Epler at Julian,
Nemaha county, November 26', 1922, in his eighty-fourth year. Mr. Ep-
ler began freighting with oxen from Nebraska City in 1859 and follow-
ed the freighting trail for five years, most of the time in the government
service. He then settled upon a Nebraska farm and made an honorable
record throughout his successful career.
Fred Uhlir, of Verdigree, Knox county, startled his community by
unloading four head of young buffales at that station the last week in
January. He bought them from a buffalo ranch at Pierre, South Dakota,
paying $1,000 for the four. A bull and three cows composed the ship-
ment. It is the intention of Mr. Uhlir to increase the herd and use them
in crossing upon cattle for the purpose of securing buffalo robes as well as
beef. The time when buffalo hides sold from the hunter's wagon at a
dollar a piece and every settler's dugout and sod house had buffalo robes
on its beds seems like yesterday to the editor of this magazine. From his
boyhood home every autumn went forth a dozen wagons filled with buf-
falo hunters bound for the Republican valley — then the great buffalo -
hunting field. No cornfed beef can ever compare with the rich, delicate
gramma grass flavor of the wild buffalo. In later years frontier families
pined for the good old buf falo steak and dried buffalo which had been
their chief diet during the period of early settlement. Children of that
time could not be persuaded to eat dried beef after the disappearance of
the buffalo. Here's a hope that the buffalo will survive in Nebraska, his
original home of greatest numbers. Buffalo robes now command from
$100 to $300 apiece and the cross of the buffalo, especially upon the black
breeds of cattle, is said to produce a robe of extraordinary beauty.
A monument was recently erected on the John Reiter fanii near In-
dianola. Upon it is this inscription:
"Pawnee Squaw, wounded in battle between Sioux and Pawnees Aug-
ust 5, 1873, at Massacre canyon; left; for dead; was picked up by a hunt-
er; brought to Indianola and left at the home of L. B. Korn, where she
died a few days later. Burial made by E. S. Hill, L. B. Korn and G. A.
Hunter."
The grave of this Pawnee woman has been enclosed \vith a strong
fence made from gas pipe and the large stone, set in cement, which stands
as a monument ought to protect the grave through all future years. Mr.
E. S. Hill, one of those who buried the woman in 1873, is the chief pro-
motor of this monument.
36 NEBRASKA HISTORY
SKULL CREEK, BUTLER COUNTY
The story of Skull Creek in Butler County and days of
early settlement there is told in graphic tale by an early set-
tler.
Skull Creek is in the northeast corner of Butler County.
Linwood is the principal nearby town. A great Pawnee vil-
lage stretched along the bench land of the Platte valley there
for many years. We have records of visits to this village in
1833 and at intervals thereafter by government agents, mili-
tary officers and explorers.
The bluffs back of the bench land were graveyards of the
Pawnee nation for many years. The editor of this magazine
has paid several visits to this ancient cemetery. Everywhere
the hills are dotted with sunken spots and the rank growth of
sunflowers marking the graves of these early Nebraska peo-
ple. Modern white settlers have shown no more respect for
the dead than the explorers in Egypt have shown for king Tut-
ank-ahmen. Everywhere the spade of the white man had
dug into the graves, throwing out bones, beads, fragments of
weapons, clothing. Many a Pawnee chief will wander empty
handed across the fields of the happy hunting grounds for lack
of the weapons his people placed with such loving care by his
side.
Skull Creek received its name from an abundance of skulls
washed out by the waters from the bluffs, oi", as one tradi-
tion tells, left on the battle field in a great fight many years
before. The writer of this story, whose family settled in But-
ler county in 1863 says :
"Once a year the Omahas, Otoes and Pawnees would come
and spend several days in marching around these graves, sing-
ing and moaning for the loss of their honored dead. It was
the delight of the settler to dig into these graves to see what
might be found. Gun barrels, iron saddle stirrups, and bones
were found. The finding of these things goes to prove the
fact that v/hen an Indian warrior is buried, that his horse,
saddle, and gun, is buried with him as he is supposed to need
them in the happy hunting ground where he is going. My
wife can well remember of going up on this bluff when she
was a girl, and picking up all kinds of beads in great quantities
found on the ground around these graves.
"At the foot of this bluff was a field of about thirty acres
surrounded by a wall of dirt, some eight or ten feet high, made
by the Indians and used as a fort, or breastwork in time of
battle. A gi-eat portion of this wall was made from dirt dug
up near where the wall was built, yet not all, for a lot of it
was brought from the 'catcher' holes that were dug in great
numbers all over the field. These holes were very curiously
NEBRASKA HISTORY 37
made. They were dug round and not larger at the top than
a wash tub, and dug about that size down for some three or
four feet, then they were dug out inside just the shape of a
jug. Some of them were ten or twelve feet across and often
ten feet deep. Into these holes the Indians would place their
corn and such things as they had stored up for winter, so that
when the enemy came upon them, they could be driven off, and
afterward come back and dig up their stuff. The object of
digging these holes in such a shape, was to have as small a
top as possible so that it could be covered in such a manner
that no one but the owner could find it. And so the dirt from
these holes was carried by the squaws in their blankets and
lielped to build the wall around the field."
(Editor's Note: These holes were "caches," from the
French word "cacher" — to hide or conceal.)
Representative Crist Anderson, of Bristow, Boyd county, puts an-
other big Nebraska storm on the calendar in an article printed in the
Bristow Enterprise October 18, 1922. He writes:
VForty-two years ago, October 15 and 16, 1880, a howling blijizard
and snow storm was raging over these prairies. We then lived in a
little log house on Turkey Creek in Holt county. Many of the leaves
\\ere still on the trees as they are now. The storm, as I remember it,
lasted nearly three days and left over a foot of snow on the level, and
just a part of the sod corn stalks sticking out. Some of that snow re-
mained in the draws until the next May,
' Our log hut was small, no floor, a board and dirt roof, but it was
warm and we had plenty to eat, plenty of wood and we did not suffer
as did some that hard, long winter. Some of the people could not get
supplies and many had to grind corn in their coffee mills. Game of all
kinds was plentiful."
Josiah Miner, who settled nine miles southwest of Friend in 1872
and still lives on his original soldier's homestead, has a splendid grove
of walnut trees planted by him fifty years ago. Mr. Miner is originator
of the idea of a walnut log cabin upon the new capitol grounds as a per-
manent memorial to the soldier homesteaders of Nebraska. A model
of this log cabin has been presented by Mr. Miner to the Historical So-
ciety and use<l for illustration of his idea before members of the legis-
lature.
Hon. George F. Smith of Waterbury, Dixon county, writes a warm
letter of appreciation for volume XX. He says: "I can scarcely give
expression to my delight and gratification in reading this volume. It
is a great book and so historically correct that while reading it one can
almost see the stirring events of that early period being enacted. My
father was one of the forty-niners. He drove oxen from Galena, Illinois,
to Sacramento, California, in the summer of forty-nine and was conse-
quently one of that great company which the book so adequately por-
trays. How rich indeed is this imperial state of Nebraska in the poss-
ession of so large a part of the area in which those wonderful deeds were
done."
38 NEBRASKA HISTORY
DEATH OF GOOD OLD MAN
One of the most interesting and probably the oldest In-
dian died on the reservation near Walthill January 12, 1923.
This was Ta-ou-ka-han, translated into English, Good Old
Man. Old Indians reckoned their age by the time when as
they say "the stars fell." This remarkable phenomenon,
which filled the night with blazing meteors from horizon to
horizon, occurred in 1833 and impressed itself upon all the In-
dian tribes. Good Old Man was nine years old at the time ac-
cording to his story. Besides his Indian name and its transla-
tion, Good Old Man was named Arthur Ramsey by the white
missionaries.
Good Old Man was born when the tribe lived on the Elk-
horn riv'sr near Frem.ont. Later the tribe moved to a vil-
lage site near the present town of Homer. Still later they
moved to the Papillion valley, giving up that region by the
treaty of 1854 and moving to the present location, then called
Blackbird Hills.
Good Old Man told the story of the buffalo hunt on Beav-
er Creek, in what is now Boone county in the summer of 1855,
when Logan Fontenelle was killed by the Sioux. Good Old
Man was selected by the Ethnological Bureau at Washington
as one of the typical Indians for a portrait in the Smithsonian
museum. Some years ago the editor of this magazine secured
phonographic records of Good Old Man's favorite songs in the
Omaha tongue and very excellent photographs while singing
these songs.
A land mark of early Lincoln was H. W. Brown, the bookstore man.
For forty years lie was in the drug: and book business in Lincoln. He
was one of the old-fashioned book dealers. He loved books. People loved
to talk with him about books. His book store was a center of book in-
terest. "With him_ the love of books was greater than the love of money
and he had no mind for adoption of more modern commercial methods
which sell books regardless of merit or development of book taste in the
public. Mr. Brown sold out his book business in Lincoln a number of
years ago and is now living at the age of 79 near his boyhood home at
Sidney, Maine. He served as a Union soldier in the Civil War and was
a prisoner at Andersonville, finally making his escape from the rebel
prison at Florence, South Carolina, and getting back to the Union lines.
The story of the pioneer preachers of the gospel in Nebraska is one
of great interest and social value. One of them, Rev, Jacob Adriance,
died at Fremont December 18, 1822, at the age of eighty-seven. He set-
tled at Tekamah in 1857 and began his service as a minister of the M. E.
church. Since that time he was almost continuously in the missionary
church service until a few years ago when failing health caused his re-
tirement. In 1862 he secured a farm in Dodge County on a soldier's land
warrant issued to his father and signed by Abraham Lincoln.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 39
WHITNEY VILLAGE, DAWES COUNTY
A recent issue of the News, published at Whitney, revives
memories and historical recollections connected with that vil-
lage. The editor of this magazine first visited Whitney in the
summer of 1888 and for the next eight years in his work as a
Dawes County editor was a frequent visitor in that commun-
ity.
The story of Whitney might well be entitled "The Rise
and Fall and Rise Again of a Frontier Community." The first
white village in the neighborhood called Dawes City was lo-
cated on the south side of the White River about a mile from
the present Whitney. It was planned to be the county seat of
Dawes County, but Chadron, the railroad division point, out-
voted all other rivals for that honor. When the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad (then called Fremont, Elkhorn and
Missouri Valley) built west from the White River in 1886 the
walls of a large Sioux earth lodge were standing on the bank
of the White River near the right of way. The station was
christened Earth Lodge. A little later, when settlers came
in and began to homestead and preempt the White River val-
ley, there w^as objection to Earth Lodge as a name and the rail-
road company changed the name to Whitney, in honor of P.
Whitney, whom many settlers of that time remember as a
very active gentleman who handled the sale of town lots along
the line of the railroad.
The village of Whitney enjoyed a boom in the years 1887-
89. A continual stream of settlers poured in. Not only the
White River valley, but the smooth "gumbo" prairie north of
Whitney was rapidly claimed by the newcomers. Several
store buildings went up in Whitney. A dozen business houses
started, stores, shops, a hotel, churches. A mill located there
and a newspaper started. Providence sent the rain just right
for the rich gumbo land. Many fields of spring wheat yielded
thirty and forty bushels to the acre in 1889. It seemed that
nothing could stop the high tide of prosperity from filling the
White River valley.
Then rapidly came the dry years, beginning with 1890.
The financial panic came along in 1893. Settlers mortgaged
their claims, and moved to the mountains, back east, down into
the Ozarks. Whitney began to fade from the face of the earth.
It was at this period that a famous political epigram was coin-
ed in Whitney. It was the hard times campaign of 1894 —
Silas A. Holcomb of Broken Bow running as populist candidate
for governor against Thomas J. Majors of Peru, republican
candidate. Joint debates were held between the populists and
the republicans in the school houses. At a debate in Whitney
George A. Eckles, Chadron lawyer, spoke first for the repub-
40 NEBRASKA HISTORY
licans. He painted the blackest picture possible of the condi-
tion which would follow if Holcomb were elected. Credit
would be refused the people of Nebraska by eastern merchants
and money-enders. Loans would be called. Banks and stores
would break. Farmers would be sold out by the sheriff. At
the close of forty minutes Mr. Eckles had demonstrated his
g-reat ability as a prophet of disaster. Before the populist
speaker assigned to reply to Mr. Eckles would get the floor,
Von Harris, a farmer living just west of Whitney, rose from a
back seat and made this speech : "Mr. Chairman, hard times,
can't hurt Whitney." The effect was electrical. A great roar
of laughter and stamping of feet filled the room. The ans-
wer was so complete that subsequent speakers scarcely refer-
red to the disastrous prophesy.
Since that time the village of Whitney nearly disappeared
from the map, ambitious ranchers hauling its houses miles
across the country to locate on their claims. The mill burned
down. The editor flew as far as Mexico. Just a little group
of old-timers gathered at the post oft ice and swapped stories
about the early boom. Then things happened, one by one.
The White River, Trunk Butte Creek, East and West Ash,
Cottonwood and Lone Tree streams were impounded and their
waters spread out upon strips of land. Alfalfa was planted.
Winter wheat put in. The potato crop found a place in the
valley. Dry farming methods came in. Cows vvere milked
and the cream separator swiftly whirled. Hens and eggs and
pigs and cows multiplied.
So Whitney came back. It now has a community club of
two hundred members. It has a twenty thousand dollar
school liouse. It has a lumber yard, two general stores, a bank,
a grain elevator, a hotel, plenty of garages, lots of pep and a
newspaper. Thus the "Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Whit-
ney village in Dawes County" makes an epic cycle of Nebraska
history. And all true.
Interesting sociology items printed in the Fairbury Journal of
December 7 recall two events of half a century ago which could not
happen now. First of these was a lotteiy project for the purpose of
raising money for a Nebraska State Orphan Asylum. Second was a
proposition submitted to the voters of Jenkins Mills (then an important
point in Jefferson county) to vote twelve thousand dollars bonds to aid
in the establishment of a foundry and machine shop at that place. The
precinct was to own stock in the enterprise. Only a fevv^ of the old-
timers, or historical students of economic events, realize how often in
the early years were these propositions for aid in establishing factories
by bond issues put across in the western states. The ambition of early
towns to become manufacturing centers made them an easy mark for
the promoters of that period. The constitution of 1875 stopped the
game.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 41
GENERAL JOHN M. THAYER
Interesting Correspondence With tlie Secretary of Worcester
Light Infantry Veteran Association of Massachusetts,
Where General Thayer began His Career as a
Soldier in 1842
Recently the editor has had a most interesting correspon-
dence with Mr. Herbert L. Adams, secretary of the Worces-
ter, Massachussetts, Light Infantry Veteran Association.
From this correspondence it appears that this organization is
putting into record form the career of its different members
through the years. One of these members is General John
M. Thayer. Apparently the people in Massachussetts lacked
a great deal of having adequate information concerning Gen-
eral Thayer. They were in possession of a newspaper clipping
at the time of his death stating that he had been United States
Senator from Nebraska and subsequently governor. The sec-
retary wrote asking for more definite information.
From the correspondence the following extracts are
taken :
Worcester, February 9, 1923.
I am just in receipt of your valued favor of February 7
and I do not delay in expressing my sincere appreciation of aid
afforded us.
General Thayer was indeed a distinguished soldier and
citizen, one of the most distinguished of the many who served
during the past 120 years in the ranks of this old military or-
ganization, and it affords us a great deal of satisfaction to be
able to publish such a complete and authentic account of his
life.
I am taking the liberty of herewith enclosing a copy of
typed matter, this being the initial copy, and subject to re-
vision, and before publication it will be carefully checked by
comparison with the publications of your society and official
military records.
I note by your memorandum that General Thayer held a
commission as Brigadier General in 1855 in the Nebraska Mil-
itia, which seems to confirm the meager information given in
an Associated Press dispatch at the time of his death, in 1906,
that, prior to the Civil War, he saw considerable service and
gained a high reputation as an Indian fighter; and I am
prompted to ask if you would have the kindness to procure
from the records of your Adjutant General's Office, data cov-
ering his service up to the outbreak of the Civil War, i, e., date
of his entering the state militia, service, and any appointments
or commissions he may have received prior to his appointment
as Brigadier General.
42 NEBRASKA HISTORY
Worcester, Mass., 24th March 1923.
The additional information you give us concerning the
career of General Thayer is most welcome and will be incor-
porated in the sketch for the history, and, thanks to you, it
will make one of the most interesting sections of the work.
We who have served in the ranks of the old company,
which has had a continuous existence for 120 years, take much
pride in the organization as a body and in the individual rec-
ords such as that of General Thayer who is one of a large
number of the old command who have become distinguished in
military and civic life. Three governors of this state, one of
Maine, Nebraska and Wyoming; Senators (U. S.) Representa-
tives in Congress; U. S. Attorney General; Judges of high
courts ; twenty or more State Senators and representatives ;
Members of Governor's Council and a dozen or so Mayors of
our city, to say nothing of the very many who won high rank
in the various wars in which the country has been involved,
the last and crowning glory from a military standpoint, in the
fact that the company was Co. C, of the 104th Infantry, 26th
Division U. S. A., whose colors were decorated by the French
Government in France, the only American regiment to be so
honored.
Worcester, Mass., 28th February, 1923.
This is in somewhat tardy acknowledgement of your very
kind favor of February 16, with the Volume V, of your publi-
cations you were so good as to loan us and which I have found,
aside from that part relating to General Thayer, of very great
interest.
I have now made up a somewhat better sketch of the life
and career of General Thayer, which I am taking the liberty
to enclose an extra carbon copy of and which I hope you will
consider as more adequately doing justice to such a career.
You are at liberty to destroy or place this matter in your files
if desired.
I call your attention to one item in this sketch with which
you may not agree, that is the lines relating to a (possible)
connection with the family of Hon. Eli Thayer who became so
conspicuous in western affairs just about the time that Gener-
al Thayer was winning renown in the same section of the coun-
try.
Strange as it may seem, it has been impossible for me to
confirm my belief that these two men were closely related, al-
though Eli Thayer hastwo daughters now living in Worces-
ter who appear to be in ignorance, and so far as I have search-
er, the published genealogies of the Thayers make no mention.
It would seem to me however that inasmuch as both John M.
and Eli Thayer were born in the same town (Bellingham being
set off from Mendon) and both born within a year of each
NEBRASKA HISTORY 43
other, they must have come from the same family. I am still
looking and may have to change my sketch as far as it has
mention of Eli Thayer.
T have the good fortune to have in my own home here, a
gentleman, George C. Hitt, a former resident of Indianapolis,
connected by relationship with former Congressman Robert C.
Hitt, of Illinois, who was personally acquainted with General
Thayer and a number of his associates in civic and military
life Vv'hen he v/as (Gen'l. Thayer) a resident of your state. He
also has been interested in reading the book and looking over
your catalog of publications and has more than once remarked
about the fine work your society is doing on historical lines
and I am glad also to compliment you. It has pleased me also
to find a number of your publications on file here at our public
library.
We ai-e especially pleased to have so good a likeness of
General Thayer and this, combined with the sketch, will make
an interesting chapter in the forthcoming history.
SKETCH
GENERAL JOHN MILTON THAYER
General John Milton Thayer, one of the most distinguish-
ed veterans of the Worcester Light Infantry, was born in
the town of Bellingham, Massaachusetts, January 24, 1920.
He was the ninth child and son of Lieutenant Elias and Ruth
(Staples) Thayer, both natives of Mendon, Mass. He gradu-
ated from Brown University in 1841 ; took up the study of law
in the office of William Lincoln in Worcester ; was admitted to
the bar of Worcester County and practiced here until about
1854. While engaged in his profession, he was for a short
period editor of the old Worcester Magazine and Historical
Journal, a publication which gave promise of becoming noted
but which unfortunately through lack of financial backing,
had a short existence.
General Thayer was regarded here as a man of consider-
able literary and professional ability and one of the most prom-
ising members of the bar. He was a member of an old and
distinguished New England family of common ancestry with
others of the same name who became distinguished in public
life, one of whom, Hon. Eli Thayer, of Worcester, became
nationally famous thru his advocacy of the admission of Ore-
gon into the Union his efforts in making Kansas and its settle-
ment by "organized emigration" in the "fifties."
At the age of twenty-two, in the first year after his
graduation from college, General Thayer became a member of
the "Infantry," which was then designated as a "A Company
of Light Infantry," attached to the 8th Regiment, 5th Brigade
and 3d Division, of the Mass. Militia. He was appointed Third
44 NEBRASKA HISTORY
Lieutenant, July 23, 1842 and second Lieutenant, April 27,
1843, then because of the demands of his profession, he retir-
ed from the militia here. He was married in Worcester, on
December 17, 1842 to Mary Laura Albee.
In 1854 General Thayer removed to the new Territory of
Nebraska and engaged in the practice of law at Omaha, in
which he continued until the outbreak of the War of the Re-
belhon in 1861.
When the Territorial Militia of Nebraska was organiz-
ed in 1855 and a choice was to be made for a' Brigadier Gener-
al to command same. Gen. Thayer was selected. As stated by
a State of Nebraska official, "by reason of his previous military
training in your organization (Worcester Light Infantry)
General Thayer was regarded as the best equipped man to be
appointed Brigadier General" and he was commissioned as
such, retaining this office until outbreak of the Civil W^ar.
On June 30, 1861, he was mustered into the service of the
United States as Colonel of the First Nebraska Infantry, which
organization subsequently became the First Nebraska Caval-
ry. This regiment had a good record in the war, participat-
ing in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg and
elsewhere. On November 1, 1862, General Thayer was honor-
ably discharged as Colonel, by reason of his acceptance on that
date of an appointment as Brigadier General of Volunteers, re-
signing his commission at the end of the war and receiving his
discharge on July 19, 3865.
From 1867 to 1871, General Thayer was United States
Senator from Nebraska; in 1875 he was appointed by Presi-
dent Grant Governor of Wyoming Territory and from 1887 to
1891 he was Governor of Nebraska.
His death occurred at Lincoln, Nebraska, March 19, 1906,
at the age of 86. When the news of his death reached Wor-
cester by Associated Press dispatches, there were a number
of old members of the bar and ex-member of the militia living
who remembel-ed him when a citizen of Worcester.
General Thayer became a citizen of Nebraska when it
was a young and somewhat turbulent territory. The country,
outside of Omaha and a very few other places was very thinly
settled and there was considerable lawlessness and disregard
of civilized authority, especially on the part of the Indians,
of whom there were a gi'eat number in and surrounding the
territory and with these elements the military forces of the
territory had more or less trouble.
The most notable occasion in which General Thayer played
a leading part was the so-called "Pawnee War of 1859" which
consisted of a stern chase after the marauding red men by a
volunteer force under General Thayer. The Indians compris-
NEBRASKA HISTORY ' 45
ed practically the entire tribe of "Pawnees" and while this con-
flict did not result in bloodshed, this was due altogether to the
coolness, daring and quick-wittedness of the general, who —
realizing fully the responsibility resting upon him and the
great risk he was taking, ordered his force of only one hundred
and ninety-four mounted men, with one small piece of field ar-
tillery, to charge the Indian who were in camp and numbered
fourteen hundred armed warriors, constituting the fighting
force of the tribe that numbered altogether about five thou-
sand males, females and children.
The story of this campaign has been told by various par-
ties but the best and undoubtedly the most truthful account
has been i-elated by General Thayer himself, who modestly
attributed his success to the fact that every man of his small
force was a trained frontiersman, of courage and daring. They
were thoroughly incensed at the Indians, many of them hav-
ing suffered by their continual raids and all were anxious to
retaliate. The very audacity of the charge took the red men
"off their feet" and caused their complete surrender without
the loss of a life and could not be considered otherwise than a
most notable achievement.
In connection with this campaign, there was a story
which was not given general publicity until many years after
the incident occurred. It was told by General Thayer at a
meeting of the Nebraska State Historical Society, January 10,
1900, the particulars of which are given in the published re-
port of the society for that year, furnished through the kind-
ness of its Superintendent, Addison E. Sheldon.
It appears that when news of the uprising of the "Paw-
nees" first reached the Capitol at Omaha, brought in by cour-
iers from the regions along the Elkhorn river, where the In-
dians were driving out the settlei's, burning their homes and
devastating their settlements, the Governor of the territory
was absent and the duties of governorship fell upon the then
secretary, Honorable J. Sterling Morton (afterwards Secre-
tary of Agriculture under President Cleveland.) Because of
the exigency of the moment, Acting Governor Morton issued
orders to General Thayer to recruit a force of volunteers im-
mediately and set out to rescue the settlers and subjugate the
Indians.
Acting in strict accord with his orders from the Acting
Governor, General Thayer started with such force as he was
able to raise for the seat of the trouble. It appears however,
that the Governor himself had learned of the affair and the
start of the expedition and General Thayer had not been out
more than two days before he was overtaken by the territor-
ial Governor, who, unfortunately, was very much under the
46 NEBRASKA HISTORY
influence of liquor and very far from being in a tractable frame
of mind. He immediately tried to assume command of the
expedition and issued some orders which threatened to cause
a revolt and actual disbandment unless something was
promptly done. General Thayer had no time to consult with
anyone at headquarters — there were no quick means of com-
munication— and realizing the temper of his man and the fu-
tility of trying to reason with his drunken Governor, His Com-
mander-in-Chief, he immediately placed him under arrest;
had him placed in an ambulance wagon under guard and kept
him there until the force had met and overcome the Indians.
General Thayer felt very sure that because of the fact
that he was out there in an unbroken wilderness, where no law
or authority, except that of "might," prevailed, he was justi-
fied in his course of action. The -force under him was purely
voluntary — not even enlisted — and he felt that the emergency
called for prompt and drastic action, such as would command
the respect of his men — and it did. The Indians were overtak-
en and thoroughly subdued ; the Governor sobered up and the
incident of his arrest seems to have been forgotten, so far as
any "official" action went.
General Thayer was regarded by the people of Nebraska
as one of the state's most distinguished citizens. His civil
and military record there covered a period of more than fifty
years, from 1854 to 1906. He was buried in the beautiful
Wyuka cemetery, adjoining the city of Lincoln, where a hand-
some monument marks his grave.
Everyone familiar with the townsite of the cit3 ol bcottsbluffs
twenty years ago recalls how it was distinguished above other places in
the North Platte valley by the beautiful young groves of cottonwood
planted by the early settlers. At that time these cottonwoods were sap-
lings, just about tall enough to hide a horse. They gave the townsite an
attractive appearance which was certainly some contribution to the future
metropolis of the North Platte valley. Those trees now shade the city and
the Scottsbluff Star-Herald notes that these cottonwood pioneers are
now being removed from the business blocks by axe and saw.
Rev. Thomas L. Sexton died in Lincoln, November 29, 1922, aged
83. Dr. Sexton came to Seward as a Presbyterian minister in 1882 and
was for forty years one of the leaders of his denomination in the state,
a strong, high-minded spirit, a Union soldier in the Civil War.
A fire at Blair December 1 burned the millinery store of Mrs. T. C.
Hilton, thereby calling attention to the fact that she had been continuous-
ly in the millinery business at that place since the spring of 1869. Her
husband, L. F. Hilton, was editor for many years of the Blair Pilot and
his name familiar in the early newspaper annals of the state.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 47
SITE OF PLUM CREEK MASSACRE
Visited by President Harvey and Secietai y Sheldon of the
State Historical Society — A Smooth Plat of Unbroken
Prairie in the Midst of a Cornfield on
the Oregon Trail About Ten Miles Southeast
of Lexington
In October, 1922, President Harvey and Superintendent
Sheldon visited the site of the Pkim Creek Massacre on the
south side of the Platte river, about ten miles from Lexington.
We were guided to the place by County Surveyor Beattie, of
Dawson County, one of the early pioneers of the region.
The site is located near the center of an eighty acre corn-
field and about sixty rods north of the section line highway.
The land is part of the Dilworth ranch owned by C. J. Dil-
worth, former attorney general of Nebraska. The murdered
party of emigrants were buried by the soldiers who arrived
soon after the massacre. Other persons were subsequently
buried in the same plot of ground. It is a perfectly level tract
about one-fourth acre in extent, about a quarter of a mile from
the banks of Plum Creek. The Oregon Trail wound its way
across this level bench of prairie, crossing Plum Creek at a
point about a mile west of the site where the dead are buried.
The wagon tracks of the old trail are clearly visible even today.
Several gravestones mark the site of the massacre, some of
them broken. There are several individual graves and one or
two large mounds apparently marking the common grave of a
number of people.
The owner of the land has carefully refrained from culti-
vating this little patch of Nebraska sod in the midst of his
field. It is inaccessible to the public, except by walking
across the cultivated land. A strip of land for a public drive
leading in to the burial site should be secured. A worthy
monument should be erected at the spot. The survey of the
Burlington railroad extension from Newark up the south side
of the Platte to North Platte and Bridgeport runs across this
bench land near the line of the Oregon Trail. The manage-
ment of the Burlington road could do a noble deed and add to
the historic interest of this line, when constructed, by bring-
ing this little consecrated strip with its pioneer graves into its
right of way and making the monument one of the conspicuous
historic marks upon its historic highway.
The nearest to an eye witness account of the Plum Creek
massacre in existence was written by James Green, of Central
City, for the annual meeting of the State Historical Society a
few years ago. Mr, Green is now seventy-eight years old.
His account of the massacre, which he narrowly escaped with
48 NEBRASKA HISTORY
his own life, has sufficient interest to warrant printing at this
time when the extension of the Burlington railroad is appar-
ently an event of the near future. His story is as follows:
In the spring of 1860 I went with my parents to Pike's
Peak, where I passed the time until January, 1862. Then I,
with my brother, S. S. Green, now of Schuyler, Nebr., started,
each with an ox team, from Denver to Omaha after freight.
From January to 'November in the y ear 1862 we made these
round trips from Denver to Omaha, driving 3,600 miles in
eleven months with oxmobile.
In the* s pring of 1863 my brothei- went to Montana. At
this time I exchanged my cattle for a mule team and made one
trip with them in the early summer of sixty three. While in
Omaha I became entangled in the famous Judge Tator trial for
the murder of his friend, Isaac Neff and I think I was the
most important witness in the case. Judge Tator was con-
victed and executed some time in the fall of 1863. It was, I
believe, the first legal execution in the territory.
Having become highly taken up with the country around
Shinn's ferry, about seven miles west of the present city of
Schuyler, I came back from Denver and squatted on a piece of
land where the present station of Edholm now stands. On
May thirteenth following I was married to Miss Elizabeth
Garrett who lived with her parents twenty miles east of me
in Saunders county. Not long after this, some time in July,
I got a hankering for the old Rockies again and we loaded our
traps in the wagon and started across the Plains, fully expect-
ing to make our f utu.re home some where along the foot of the
Rocky mountains. At the time we started there were faint
rumors that the Indians wei-e going to cause trouble and on ar-
riving at Fort Kearney, 125 miles west, the officers there v/ere
advising the emigrants to travel in large companies for self-
protection. But, being perfectly familiar with the country
and also with the Indians, for they were always in evidence
along the route, we proceeded on our way and went as far as
Cottonwood Springs, later Fort McPherson. On our arrival at
this point the air was full of rumors of depredation further
west and it was said one man had been killed and his stock
run off. After due consideration Vv'e concluded the best thing
to do was to tui'n back and wait a year, when perhaps the In-
dian troubles would be settled.
So early in the morning, August 6, we turned our oxen to
the east and drove to Gillman's ranch, twelve miles east, and
went into camp one half mile east of the ranch on the bank of
the i-iver. The river here was full of little tow heads and
small channels a few inches deep trickling over the sand. After
we had been in camp perhaps one and one half hours and I was
(Continued in Vol. V No. 4)
NEBRASKA HISTORY 49
DEATH OF MRS. JOHN PILCHER
A Famous Woman of French and Indian Blood Whose Family
Connects the Present Time With the Earliest
W^hite Settlement in Nebraska
Mrs. Harriett Pilcher, widow of John Pilcher, died at
Walthill December 14, 1922, in her eighty-second year. She
was born at Philadelphia August 28, 1841, and with her par-
ents made the long journey by ox team arriving at Omaha on
December 1, 1855. Her father's name was Arlington, the
village being named for him. A little later sh-e moved to De-
catur, where in 1860 she married John Pilcher. Ten children
v/ere born of this marriage and eighty-seven grandchildren
and great grandchildren at the time of her death. Eight of
her grandsons served as soldiers in the World War, one of
them being wounded in the Argonne.
John Pilcher Vv^as the son of Major Pilcher, leading Indian
trader in the Nebraska region a century ago. His trading
posts along the Missouri river were famous resorts of Indians
and white men. In 1823 he became president of the Ameri-
can 1< ur Company at St. Louis and in 1838 he was appointed
superintendent of Indian affairs for this region. He died in
1848. The mother of his son John was an Omaha Indian
woman.
The children of early fur traders and Indian women have
been the great connecting link between the savage customs and
traditions of the Indian tribes and the civilization of the v/hite
man. Speaking the languages of both the Indian tribes and
the white men, and knowing from childhood tlie ways of the
Indian, they became not only the interpreters between the
white and red men at their councils but, even more, the inter-
preters of Indian life to the civilized world. Without their
aid we should have inevitably lost the large part of the know-
ledge of Indian customs, folklore and religion which is such a
valuable storehouse for future literature and perpetual in-
terpreter of prehistoric times to present day people.
The Pilcher home, on a beautiful site two miles west of
Walthill, has for many years been a center of all that was
l^est in both Indian and frontiei- white society. Six daugh-
ters in the family made an attractive center for many young
men. All the daughters married well, Mrs. Pilcher was a
deeply religious woman, full of sympathy and helpfulness for
Indian or white people. Her name will always be an honored
one in Nebi'aska history and in the annals of the Omaha Indian
tribe.
NEBRASKA
AND RECOPHD OF ,,
iVol. V
MI5TORV
PIONEER DAVS
October-Decembei', 1922
No. 4
CONTENTS
Letter from Editor Edson, Filley Spotlight. . 50
Rock Bluff — Grange Song Book — Joel Warner 51
Tom Powers, Cattleman — James E. Newsome,
U. P. porter 52
J. P. Dunlap — Pioneer Nurseryman in Butler
County 53-56
Legend of Weeping Water 57-59
Hastings Monument — Agate Springs — North
Platte Log Cabin 59
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE NEBRASKA STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
LINCOLN
Entered as second class matter February 4, 1918, at the Post Office,
Lincoln, Nebraska, under Act August 24, 1912.
THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Made a State Institution February 27, 1883.
An act of the Nebraska legislature, recommended by Governor
James W, Dawes in his inauu:ura! and signed by him, made the State
Historical Society a State institution in the following:
Be it Enacted by the Leg-islature of the State of Nebraska:
Section 1. That the "Nebraska State Historical Society," an or-
ganization now in existence — Robt. W. Furnas, President; James M.
Woohvorth and Elmer S. Dundy, Vice-Presidents; Samuel Aughey,
Secretary, and W. W. Wilson, Tieasurcr, their associates and successors-^
be, and the same is hereby recognized as a state institution.
Section 2. That it shall be the du^y of the President and Secretary
of said institution to make annual'y re^iorts to the governor, as required
by other state institution?. Said report to embrace the transactions and
expenditures of the organization, together with all historical addresses,
which have been or may hereafter be read before the Society or fuinished
it as historical matter, data of the state or adjacent western regions of
country.
Section 3. That said reports, addresses, and paper? shall be pub-
lished at the expense of the state, and distributed as other similar official
reports, a reasonab'e number, to be decided by the state and Society, to
be furnished said Society for its use and distribution.
Property and Equipment
The present State Historical Society owns in fee simple title as
trustee of the State the half block of land opposite and east of the State
House v/ith the basement thereon. It occupies for offices and working
quarters basement rooms in the University Library building at 11th and
R streets. The basement building at 16th and H is crowded with the
collections of the Historical Society which it can not exhibit, including
some 15,000 volumes of Nebraska newspapers and a large part of its
museum. Its rooms in the University Library building are likewise
crowded with library and museum material. The annual inventory of
its property returned to the State Auditor for the year 1920 is as follows:
Value of Land, V2 block 16th and H $75,000
Value of Buildings and permanent improvements 35,000
Value of Furnituie and Furr\ishings 5,000
Value of Special Equipment, including Apparatus,
Machinery and Tools 1,000
Educational Specimens (Art, Bluseum, or other) 74,800
Library (Books and Pviblications) 75,000
Newspaper Collection 52,895
Total Resources $318,195
Much of this property is priceless, being the only articles of their
kind and impossible to duplicate.
NEBRASKA HI5TORV
y^lND RECORD OF RIONEER D^WS _
Published Quarterly by the Nebraska Historical Society
Addison E. Sheldon, Editor
Subscription, $2.00 per year
All
sustaining
Nebraska
membei
History
s of the Nebraska State Historical
and other publications without furthei
Society
payme
receive
nt.
Vol
5
October-December, 1922
No.
4
George T. Edson, editor of the Spotlight at Filley, in sending the
Historical Society the most complete file of that publication in exist-
ence takes occasion to add a few< remarks of general interest to the pub-
lic and of special interest to newspaper publishers in Nebraska. From
it we quote,
"The Filley Spotlight was established in November, 1915, but the
files for the first two years were burned with the printing office in
March, 1918. The paper was again started August 18, 1918, and the files
are fairly complete from that date, A few are missing, but none are
to be supplied from this office.
"I will entrust them to your care, hoping that in future years some-
thing may be found in them of interest or value. The editor has been
careful in the collection of vital statistics and has endeavored to give a
good deal of information in the obituaries. I have often inquired the
name of the father of some aged resident, and thus recorded a genera-
tion of the family which will be unknown in our next generation. The
earlier copies are poorly printed, owing to the handicaps under which
the publisher worked after the fire which cleaned out his plant. In the
interim between November, 1917 and March 1918, I was in Mexico, and
from March, 1918, until the following August I was figuring on how I
could resume publication and trying to earn enough money to buy a
junk plant.
"Hereafter I shall mail the Historical Society regular numbers of
the Spotlight, which may be added to the file I am sending you. I am
a well wisher of the Society and hope to see it housed in commodious
quarters some day, with ample facilities to care for its collections."
,51 NEBRASKA HISTORY
SONGS
of
THE GRANGE
Set to Music and Dedicated to
The Order of
Patrons of Husbandry
In the United States
Philadelphia:
J. A. Wagenseller, Printer, 23 N. 6th St.
1874
The above lines represent the title page of a gift to the
Historical Society by D. A. Young of Plattsmouth. This par-
ticular copy was used by the old Rock Bluff Grange of Cass
county. The songs sung by the grangers in those years were
a great influence in that society which did the first work in
the field of farmers' organization of Nebraska. The tunes in
many cases are familiar. The words breathe a high type of
fellowship and motive. Among the hundred songs of this
book, one stanza may be quoted as a sample of its sentiments :
The farn;er's the chief of the nation
The oldest of nobles is he;
How blest beyond others his station,
From want and from envy how free;
His patent was granted in Eden,
Long ages and ages ago;
O, the farmer, the farmer forever;
Three cheers for the plow, spade and hoe!
The oldest librarian in Nebraska (perhaps in the world) is Rev.
Joel Warner of Hooper, now in his eighty-fifth year. He is still ac-
tively and keenly interested in the development of the public library
there. Mr. Hooper has been a resident of Nebraska for fifty-eight
years, most of them spent as minister of Presbyterian churches. He
has been candidate on the Prohibition Party ticket for governor and has
lived to see a dry nation — once regarded as an impossible dream. In the
winter of 1865-6 Mr. Hooper taught school at Bellevue and organized
there the first literary society in the state so far as his information
goes. His active memory recalls the great prairie fire which swept over
Elk Hill at Bellevue, afterward the site of Bellevue College. It was
like a scene from Dante's Inferno. Mr. Warner writes: "In those years
as soon as the grass was dry in the fall, the gi-eat fires would sweep
over the prairie and destroy all vegetation, leaving the roots exposed to
the sun's rays, the winter's frost, and fierce winds. It was no wonder
that emigrants who passed over the country late in the fall or early in
the spring pronounced it a desert land, since far as the eye could reach
nothing was seen but the blackened prairie."
John N. Anderson of Leland, Illinois, writes that he ownes a quarter
section of land in Nebraska and desires the publications of the His-
torical Society.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 52
Tom Powers, one of the old time cattle men of the North Platte Val-
ley, was recently telling stories of the old time which are printed in the
Scottsbluff Star-Herald of November 7, 1922. His stories relate to both
Nebraska and Wyoming and belong to a period when the state line cut
little figure for the frontiersmen. Among other stories of Mr. Powers
were these:
"We killed buffalo on the Cheyenne river as late as 1888. I saw as
many as five thousand antelope in one drove in those years. Herman
Ldppold and myself killed seventeen gray wolves by poisoning them with
strychnine one night. We put the poison in the carcass of an antelope
and received $37.50 bounty for each woU scalp,
' The coldest day I ever saw in Wyoming or western Nebraska was in
January, 1898. I drove a team from Rawhide to Mitchell, on account of
a jumping toothache, and the thermometer registered fifty-six below at
five p. m.
"Wild geese were in abundance along the Platte river all the time
and their music could be heard for miles. The Sioux Indians came down
here frequently and some of the cowboys used to get stuck on the good-
looking squaws. I never did myself, for they didn't like the Irish very
well and we didn't get along. They seldom caused us trouble as they were
afraid of the cowpunchers who were quick to draw their guns, but they
dealt out misery to the emigrants by/ running off their horses and cattle.
We had a great many dances in the country. People went more than a
hundred miles to dance, at a ranch. They did not dance just one night,
but took pack horses and their beds, stayed three or four nights and had
a good time.
"In the spring of the year there were always many cattle in the valley
that had drifted in during the winter. In the spring of 1887 on the gen-
eral round-up there were twenty-seven round-up wagons and each wagon
represented a different outfit and averaged at least fifteen men to the
wagon. Each man had a string of at least nine horses, so you can imag-
ine how many saddle horses there would be in one round-up, more horses
perhaps, than many of the residents of the valley will ever see. The larg-
est round-up I ever saw was in the spring of '87 on what was known as
below the sinks of Sheep creek on what is now Pete Vomberg's place,
about two miles west of Morrill. On the drive it was estimated that
there were over 40,000 head of cattle. They had to be cut up in 17 bunches
and it took two days to work the drive. Every outfit of any size for
over three hundred miles from the north and west had cattle in that round-
up."
The Union Pacific magazine has an interesting story of James E.
Newsome, the oldest porter in the employ of the Pullman Company, who
finished fifty-two yeai^s of actual service for the company on September
10, 1922._ Mr. Newsome might be regarded as a Nebraska pioneer on
wheels since he has been running on trains between Chicago and Denver
for forty-five years. He knew by name nearly all the distinguished men
of the Trans-Missouri region— General Nelson A. Miles, Col. Wm. F.
Cody, J. Sterling Morton, James E. Boyd, Edward Rosewater, not to men-
tion Jesse and Frank James, Wild Bill Hickok and "Canada Bill," the fa-
mous three-card monte shark who used to fleece passengers on the over-
land trains by playing the part of a green cattleman who was learning to
play cards. Besides the history of the hom.esteader, the pioneer business-
man, the mechanics, who foundeil and built the great empire of the plains
and prairies, there is to be reckoned the pioneer railroader who kept up
transportation service with the rest of the world.
53 NEBRASKA HISTORY
A PIONEER'S EXPERIENCE IN BUTLER COUNTY
J. P. Dunlap of Dwight Relates His Farm and Orchard Adven-
tures of the Early Years
In 1869 I settled on this place in Butler County, Nebraska,
on the west line of Richardson Township, adjoining the east
line of Plumcreek township. Not far to the east in Richard-
son township the table land broke off into hilly land of small
creeks and small patches of timber along the creeks. In
Richardson township there were then five settlers. To the
west, Plumcreek township was a tall, grass covered plain,
where no white man had ever miade his home.
What tame crops could be grown here was then only a
conjecture and people's opinions differed on that, so try was
the only way to know. I did not have much money, but good
ability and will to work. Days those times were from dawn
to dark, so a strife for a home began.
At the end of the first summer, I had a well, a small log
house, a shed for stock, guards to protect against wild fires
that burned off the dead grass of the plains once a year.
About ten acres of the wild sod was broken out and most of it
planted to vine crops, such as squash, melons and beans. A
hole was chopped in the new-turned sod, the seed dropped in
and the hole tramped shut was all that was needed until har-
vest, as no weeds grew on sod the first year. Turnips were
sowed and harrowed well on the new broke sod. They all did
well. I had never seen such do better than they did. I also
planted corn, but it did not make a very good crop on such
new land. Fuel was gathered from creeks. Wild hay was
plenty everywhere just for the cutting. The winter was a
little harder than an average Nebraska winter, but we got
through it passably fair for such a new country.
In the spring of 1870 I began planting trees. Osage
orange seed was planted. Plants grew well, those not needed
for myself were sold to neighbors. People twenty miles away
were called neighbors in those days. Fence rows of osage
died in places. Honey locust for fence proved hardy, but when
barb wire came into use demand for hedge plants ceased. I
planted a few apple trees, a few currants, peach seeds and
wild fruits from the creeks. Of the wild fruits the rasp-
berry and plum were the most worthy. The rest of the plow-
ed land was put to wheat, corn and potatoes. All made fair
crops. More sod was broken and as many vines and beans as
could be used planted on the new sod. More new settlers mov-
NEBRASKA HISTORY 54
ed in. I would break sod for them when needed. When the
plow got dull there was a blacksmith shop and store where
Seward is now and an angling road there. We called it thir-
teen miles. I would let the team rest and take the shares on
my back and walk. If I did not have to wait long I would get
home by noon. If I did have to wait it only made dinnei' that
much later. Early June when I was at the blacksmith shop
the seeds were ripe on the wild maple trees on the Blue river.
I got two sacks and some boys to help me to gather seeds, car-
i-ied them home and planted them. They grew well. The
young trees were in good demand.
In 1872 I went to Missouri and got plants of fruit and
flowers such as I thought would be most desirable. There was
a nursery started east of Seward. I got some stock of them.
I planted wind breaks, mostly of cottonwood, gray willows, elm
and maple about the house. I got more new sod broke. New
settlers were still coming, which made a market for surplus
crops and kept money in circulation. Everybody worked
with a will, filled with elation and hope of having a home in so
fertile and healthful a country.
In 1873 the Midland Pacific, now the Burlington, railroad,
v/as built to Seward. Two brothers, named Spears, each start-
ed a nursery. I got stock of each of them. Both died
within a few years. The first nursery there had quit. There
vvere hardly enough sales of the nursery stock for a man to
live on that alone, but so many new farms were being opened
that the prospects for the business in the near future looked
good. Mr. Jobes, near Seward, started a nursery. I got stock
of him. He quit the business a few yeais later. The spring
of 1874 opened with all good prospects of the past seasons.
July 31 was a calm, clear, hot day. I was going with a crew
heading wheat when a dark cloud came. We did not know
what it was or could be until it hit us. It was grasshoppers
that darkened the sun, that made the light look like moonlight.
They were eating all green vegetation, except the wild grass.
We kept on working, the hoppers going with the heads of grain
into the stacks. The next day was Saturday. My turn to get
my wheat headed would not come until the middle of the next
week. The crew said if I would have my grain cut on Sunday
(that was the ijcxt diiy) they would help. I told them I would
rather take chances of some being left. When my regular
turn did come the hoppers had gone to hunt new pasture. All
my oats and smooth wheat were entirely ruined. Ten acres of
barbed wheat that was dead lipe and dry was not harmed.
It was enough for our bread and seed and some to sell, and to
this day when I think of it I feel glad that I did not harvest it
on Sunday. But I hold a kindly feeling to those that kindly
made the offer. All other crops were gone.
55 NEBRASKA HISTORY
All leaves were eaten from the trees and plants, except a
few plants that I covered with dirt. The larger trees leaved
again and most of them survived the winter, but were in a
weak condition. European larch never leaved again. William
Griffin, who was helping me Saturday, told me after he had
thrashed his wheat that the upper joints of the hoppers legs,
when broke off, were small enough to go through the riddle
and too heavy for the fan to blow them out, so they went in
with the thrashed grain and as near as he could tell by look-
ing at it it was half grasshoppers' legs.
The grasshoppers were a burden for a few years, but never
again were they so bad as in 1874. If the hoppers had only
eaten our crops and if that had been all it would not have been
so bad, but they gave the country a bad name. Immigiation
here ceased. Many settlers sold such property as they could
not take with them for what they could get and went away.
Those that remained, with great economy and hard v/ork, man-
aged to live until prosperity returned. I raised garden truck
and sold it in the new towns that had been started to help me
keep up expenses. The grasshopper damage got less each
year. We raised fair crops each year, but the prices were so
low for what we had to sell. In 1877 the U. P. railroad was
built through where Brainard is now and immigration began
again.
Those that moved away began to return and prosperity
was again in the country. Some years were better than
others, but it has been onward and upward all the time. I
put in more trees and plants each year, trying to keep even
with the demand. At first the demand was greater for forest
than for fruit trees and after the tree claim act passed the de-
mand for forest tree plants was great. We could sell native
ash and boxelder plants boxed for less than one dollar a thous-
and as they were taken in such large quantities. Mulberries,
locust, catalpa, walnut and oak were higher prices. Several
large nurseries were established in the state to supply the
demand. This great demand lasted only a few years until the
tree claimers were all supplied. After that there was only lo-
cal demand for forest trees.
In 1887 the Northwestern railroad was built through
where Dwight is and part of the old homestead was taken in
the townsite of Dwight. This made it more convenient for all
kinds of business. The demand for fruit trees and plants, or-
namental plants, shrubbery and evergreen trees, both for or-
namental use and windbreaks, has greatly increased. The
country has gradually settled until all the lands are occupied by
good homes, sheltered by trees and supplied by fruits from
their own orchards. In planting trees I wanted to plant
enough of all kinds that was needed, but if I planted more of
NEBRASKA HISTORY 56
one kind than I could sell the surplus was a loss and if I did
not plant enough of any one kind there would be a shortage
and I would have to buy to fill the deficiency. There were in-
sects and dry spells in summer and snow drifts and rabbits in
winter and all plants did not do well alike. So as long as I
was in the business I was not able to make very good guesses
as to the proportion and amounts to plant. Our children grew
up and went to homes of their own, and I got so that I could
not work very much, so I closed out my nursery business in
1912.
I will give name, age and size in circumference (m feet and
inches three feet above the ground) of the biggest trees of
their kind of a few kinds that I have grown on this, the old
place, on the table land by Dwight. All of the trees had a fair
amount of space except the bur oak. It was crowded on one
side. Perhaps it is the best native timber tree to plant on the
high land here. In the grove all are much smaller of their
kind and age than those given here. The Minkler apple tree
is nearly dead. The cottonwood is forked and one fork was
struck by lightning ten years ago. The Wisconsin weeping
willow is showing age. All of the others are healthy. The
native maple grew by a slough. The Burkett pear produced
twenty-two bushels of pears last year. The other trees stand
near the house.
Pear, 6 feet 3 inches, 45 years old.
Apple, 6 feet 6 inches, 49 years old.
Pine, 4 feet 3 inches, 49 years old.
Scotch Pine, 4 feet 10 inches, 29 years old.
Silver Spruce, Picen Pungen, 3 feet 8 inches, 32 years old.
Willow, 7 feet, 5 inches, 45 years old.
Elm, 8 feet, 49 years old.
Walnut, 5 feet, 8 inches, 35 years old.
Oak, 5 feet, 2 inches, 35 years old.
Cottonwood, 13 feet, 6 inches, 52 years old.
Maple, 13 feet, 4 inches, 49 years old.
Russian Olive, 4 feet, 2 inches, 30 years old.
Boxelder, 7 feet, 7 inches, 49 years old.
Prussian Lilac, 12 feet high, 25 foot spread of branches,
about 40 years old.
All these measured in March, 1923.
James P. Dunlap,
E. T. Long of St. Edward finished husking a sixty acre field of coi'n
February 7,1923. He was fifty-nine days in the field doing it, not be-
cause he was compelled to, but to show what a pioneer settler could do
in the present day. Mr. Long homesteaded in Boone county in May, 1871,
and has been there ever since, being the second settler in that county.
57 NEBRASKA HISTORY
LEGEND OF WEEPING WATER
The Story as Put in Literary Form by J. C. Lindberg, a Gradu-
ate of Doane College, now Teacher at the Aberdeen
Normal School, South Dakota
Many requests reach the Historical Society for the legend
of Weeping Water. There is no established form for this
legend. It is, in fact, difficult to determine how far the legend
is a real Indian creation and how far the product of the white
man's imagination. Prof. 0. C. Dake, -early teacher of liter-
ature in the Nebraska University, and author of the first vol-
ume of Nebraska poetry, has a poem upon this legend. His
l)Ook was printed in 1871. He doubtless gathered the material
for the story from people at Weeping Water, Cass County,
some of whom settled there in 1856.
Professor Lindberg sought information upon this legend
from the editor of this magazine twenty years ago. Subse-
quently he wrote the story. A recent published version of his
story, printed in South Dakota, follows :
"Nebraska has but few legends to lend spice to the or-
dinary prosaic routine of her busy life. The following, the
legend of Weeping Water, is an interesting one, and is well
worth a hearing, as well as preservation. Doubtless there are
many people in the state who have perhaps not heard it, and
some of these perhaps not far from the scene of action. The
Weeping Water is a beautiful little stream in the southeastern
part of Nebraska, too large to be called a creek, but scarcely
large or dignified enough to be called a river. Be that as it
may, those who live within easy reach, and are able to enjoy its
scenery wish it none other than it is.
But it is with the origin of the stream and not its beauty,
that we are concerned, and here it is that the legend becomes
of interest. Many years, perhaps centuries ago, two Indian
tribes roamed the plains of what is now eastern Nebraska.
They were very hostile toward each other, for each claimed
this particular territory as its ancestral hunting ground. As
years passed on this hostile feeling became more and more
strained. These were not the days of arbitration, viompulsory
or otherwise, and it soon became evident that the only m.eans
of settlement lay through an appeal to the god of war. It al-
so chanced that upon the same night each tribe planned to sur-
prise and overawe the other, with the result that at earlv dawn
each found itself face to face with its dreaded enemy. The bat-
tle was fierce. Upon the result hung the fate of the whole
tribe, and of all that is dear to the heart of an Indian. Each
warrior burned with the desire for revenge. All day the bat-
NEBRASKA HISTORY 58
tie lasted with varying successes and defeats on both sides.
Now one of the tribes seemed to be the complete master of the
field, when suddenly from an ambush would rally forth a
swarm of men and overawe the victors with a shower of ar-
rows. No point of the compass pointed out safety of escape.
Every tree, every bush, every bank hurled forth its deadly
weapons. The result was the total annihilation of one of the
tribes and only a handful of the other was left to tell the
story.
As the days passed on and no tidings came to those of
the vanquished tribe who were left in the camp, they became
uneasy. They knew only too well the meaning of no news.
A council was held and it was decided to go en masse to bury
their dead. It was indeed a sad sight that greeted them when
they arrived upon the scene. There were tears, many tears.
After they had buried their dead another council was held at
which it was decided that each year upon the anniversary of
the battle the whole tribe should journey to the scene of the
slaughter and there lament their dead heroes. This custom
was dutifully kept up until the white man appeared upon the
scene and pushed the Indians farther west. But meanwhile a
great many tears had been poured out, so many, indeed that
a little stream was formed and made its way down the valley.
The bed of the stream is very uneven and broken by many
little falls and because of this (as well as from the origin of
the stream) there is a constant murmuring and complaining
and so it was christened the Weeping Water. It was in these
complaints that the water heard the following voice :
Though all nature around us is smiling
There's a note of despair in the song.
Come tell me, no longer beguiling,
Come tell me the tale of thy wrong.
Then a murmur as soft as the breeze.
Yet wierd as the sighing of waves —
"I'm grieving the death of my kinsmen,
I'm grieving the death of my braves."
There's joy in the bobolink's singing
There is music in every nook ;
But deep in my heart keeps ringing,
The longing lament of the brook.
'Tis the wail of an Indian maiden,
Like the moaning of far distant waves ;
"Return me, i-eturn me my lover.
Return me, return me my braves."
59 NEBRASKA HISTORY
Now the Sim in its glory is setting,
And the shadows of evening unfold,
No breeze the tree-tops are fretting
And the cloud-land is purple and gold;
Still the soul-rending wail of the mourner,
An echo from countless graves;
"Revenge me, revenge me, my kinsmen;
Revenge me, revenge me, my braves."
(Editor's Note : Upon the early French maps of the Ne-
braska region appears the stream of the legend with the name
"L'eau qui Pleure" — whose English equivalent is "water
which weeps.")
A letter from D. A. Young, Plattsmouth, one of the early time
pioneers of Cass county, tells the story of the Rock Bluff precinct elec-
tion in 1866. The story is familiar to all old-timers and is one of the
fifty stories in the book, "History and Stories of Nebraska." In brief
it is the story of the election board which went to dinnei- at noon taking
the ballot box with them. The precinct voted 2 to 1 Democratic. The
Republican canvassing board at Plattsmouth threw out the vote of the
precinct, thereby changing the result of the election for legislature. In
consequence two republicans were sent to the United States senate in-
stead of two democrats. Throwing out Rock Bluff precinct however
did not change the result of the vote upon statehood nor was it in any
way responsible for President Andrew Johnson's veto.
The G. A. R. memorial shaft on the court house square at Hastings,
now under construction, is to be thirty-five feet high, surmounted by a
Union soldier in private's uniform standing at attention. Its foundation
is an eight foot cube of solid cement in which is imbedded a copper box
nine by eleven by five inches containing historical records. The monu-
ment is to be of the finest grade of Barre granite and will cost $9,975.
Harold Cook of Agate*, Springs ranch in Sioux county, was a Lincoln
visitor (luiing the holidays. The Agate Springs ranch has become a
center of interest in every museum of the United States. Wonderful
discoveries of prehistoric animals continue at that place. Last year over
five thousand visitors were received, although the ranch is from twenty
to fifty miles from the railroads of that region. A museum building to
hold the remarkable collections now at the ranch and others yet to be dis-
covered is contemplated.
The North Platte Women's Club has done a fine patriotic piece of
work by securing for permanent preservation a cedar log cabin now stand-
ing in the south part of that city and one of the first buildings erected in
North Platte. The cabin will be moved to a convenient spot near the
court house, fitted up as a museum and memorial building in coopera-
tion with the Daughters of the American Revolution. A good photo-
graph of this cabin taken by the writer a few years ago is in the His-
torical photograph collections.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 60
OTOE INDIAN LORE
Richard Shunatona, Keeper of Peace Pipe and Chief of the
Buffalo Clan, Furnishes Important Information
Upon the Present Chiefs, Customs and Tradi-
tions of the Tribe
Otoe Names for Months and Seasons
From Richard Shunatona, member of the Nebraska State
'Historical Society and representative of the society to the
Otoe tribe in Oklahoma, we have received most interesting- and
valuable unpublished material relating to that tribe which fol-
lows :
1. The names and addresses of the living chiefs of the
Otoe and Missouria Indians are: —
Name Address Remarks
Hoke S. Dent, Red Rock, Okla., descendant of Shumonecahthee, 1817
R. Shunatona, Pawnee, Oklahoma, descendant of Chongatonga, 1817
Sam Black Red Rock, Okla., descendant of Woronesane, 1825
S. B. Lincoln, Red Rock, Oklahoma, descendant of Walonithau, 1833
Wm. Fawfaw, Red Rock, Oklahoma, appointed chief by Interior Dept.
Felix Robedioux, Red Rock, Oklahoma, descendant of Medicine Horse, 1854
Wm. Green, Red Rock, Oklahoma, descendant of Lanuwahhah, 1825
Sam' Ellis, Red Rock Oklahoma, descendant of Hahchegesuga, 1830
Moses Harragarra, Red Rock, Oklahoma, descendant of Big Soldier, 1854
John Pipestem, Red Rock, Oklahoma, descendant of Mawthratine, 1854
Robert McGlaslin, Red Rock, Oklahoma, descendant of Mawthratine, 1854
Iowa Coonskin, Red Rock, Oklahoma, descendant of Bahtheecuja, 1825
David Pettit, Red Rock, Oklahoma
2. The names of the old and distinguished Indians are : —
Charles Watson, retired chief and historian of the tribe. Far-
rar Robedioux, a Civil War Veteran and the oldest member liv-
ing.
2. The names of the old and distinguished Indians are : —
James Arkeketa, Sr., or Standing Buffalo, died July 24,
1912. His distinguished deed was in recovering some stolen
cavalry horses for the government. He was the last priest
of the tribe and head of the Buffalo Clan.
Richard Whitehorse, died 1922, was a friend of the gov-
ernment and friendly to everybody.
Josiah Headman, died , was the head of the
Bear Clan.
Albert Green, died Jan. 17, 1921, was a teacher and orator.
He was really the principal chief when he died.
Henry Jones, died Sept. 22, 1918. He succeeded his uncle,
Whitehorso, <r.s one of the chiefs. He was loved by his tribe.
In conclusion, permit me to add the following : —
The Otoe and Missouria Tribes were known by the French
explorers as early as 1673, under the name of Otantata, or
Wah-doe dah-dah.
61 NEBRASKA HISTORY
In olden times there were only seven chiefs of the tribes.
Each chief was a keeper of a Peace pipe which was their sym-
bol or insignia. To become a chief of the tribes was no easy
matter, for it required something more than a member of the
family to be one. In order to be initiated into the secret order
of the Chief's lodge one must be a student of the) great school-
room of Nature, for really a chief must be able to teach the
tribes. They derived the figure seven from the Pleiades, and
each chief puts his trust in these heavenly stars, because each
one represented one of the Pleiades.
As God gave Moses by word of mouth, on Mount Sinai, the
laws which he delivered unto his people, who repeated it until
fixed in their minds, so it is with the Indians. The Great
Spirit taught them in their own primitive way and since then
their laws have been handed down to each generation.
The Otoe and Missouria Tribes are divided into bands or
clans, with chiefs, symbols, badges, etc. The influence of
names and families is strictly kept up and their qualities and
relative distinction preserved in heraldric family arms.
The Otoe and Missouria Tribes have two ruling fami-
lies, viz: — Ah-lu-qwa, or Buffalo Clan and the Tu-nah-be, or
Bear Clan. Each clan is the ruler as their respective moon ar-
rives.
When the moon begins to warm mother earth and when
the grass and the leaves begin to have a coat of green, or dur-
ing the last quarter of Ma-gan-na, (plow month) or the month
of Api'il, the Ah-lu-qwa is the ruler of the tribes and is to be
respected.
When the moon begins to cool mother earth and when the
leaves turn brown and begin to drop back to earth, or during
the last quarter of Tah-ke-lu-rscha, (mating of deers) or the
month of October, the Tu-nah-be becomes the ruler of the
tribes. When the change is made certain rites and rituals
are performed.
When the "Guardian of all red childrien" placed the Otoe
and Missouria Tribes here upon the earth, they were given re-
ligious customs, t\'hich were observed in the old days gone by.
Every new moon brought some rituals and Avhen they prepare
to give mother earth the seed for their crop, certain rites were
had and the same is true when they gather the harvest and
when their fall hunt is about to begin. They remembered
their Maker daily and always called upon Him for guidance and
protection.
Believing that this will be of some interest and regretting
very much that the true history, given by an Indian who is a
student of the old Indian teachings, will be forgotten forever,
I now close.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 62
BE-LAH-WAY
(Month Counting)
CALENDAR
Was-se-gay, Me-tah-way,
People, My own.
Wah-doe-dah, hay-dah, Nu-dar-chee,
Otoes and Missoiirias.
WAH-COHN-DAH, E-chee-chee-a, A-wa-tah-way-nay,
Great Spirit children his own.
WAH-COHN-DAH, Ah-blah-a-ah-dah-nay,
Great Spirit everywhere they see
WAH-COHN-DAH, Me-kay, way-glo-he-nay,
Great Spirit, faithful worshippers."
The Otoe and Missouria tribes have songs for their
Great Spirit because He is everywhere. Their songs are
breathed-in songs and these songs are treasured down through
the ages from generation to generation.
Each new moon meant purification and sacrifice from
every family in the tribes. The priest of the tribes takes
their offerings and takes them to the altar which is built for
that purpose only, and the possessor offers them as a sin offer-
ing to the Great Spirit. The priest, looking to the heaven, of-
fers a prayer and sings to the Great Spirit, who is watching
his children everywhere. An elegy is sung to the new moon.
The different seasons of the year brought some form of
worship. The most important event is spring and in fact
their new year begins with the spring. Spring was a day of
much thinking because the Great Spirit made everything to
live over again. It meant that they, as a tribe or nation, must
bury their past and live over again and try to remember their
Maker more each day by their prayers. Their feasts for new-
resolutions are had at the very beginning of spring.
Winter was also a big event because it brought to their
minds of the death of things and to the human race. Winter
reminded them of death. The snow covering the whole earth
reminded them of the purity of their Great Spirit, and they al-
ways tried to live a pure life.
Their count of the days begins with each new moon, and
every important event or act is reckoned as the new moon,
when moon was larger than new moon or, when moon was full,
when moon was smaller than full moon, which meant new
moon, 1st quarter, full moon and last quarter.
Such is the counting months of the year of the Otoe and
Missouri.
Richard Shunatona, Author.
63
NEBRASKA HISTORY
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NEBRASKA HISTORY
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65 NEBRASKA HISTORY
SITE OF PLUM CREEK MASSACRE
(Continued from Vol. V, No. 3)
sitting on the wagon tongue thinking of hooking up, all of a
sudden, without any apparent noise, nine of the biggest, black-
est war painted Indians I ever saw suddenly appeared f I'om out
of the river all riding good horses. They at once began to par-
ley. Some of them could talk English pretty good, wanting
to trade ponies for squaws. As my wife sat on the wagon in
plain sight of them they raised their bids from one to four
ponies for her.
All at once the whole party struck out for the bluffs on
the full run, which for the moment was a puzzle to me. The
mystery was soon solved, for on looking down the road I saw
a company of cavalry, that were being sent from Ft. Kearny to
Cottonwood Springs, within a mile of us. These cavalry were
to establish an outpost near where the trouble was expected.
I don't think we would have been disturbed by these Indians
at that time except in a badgering way and my reason for this
belief will be given later.
From this camp we drove on for another half day. We
camped this time at what was called the Deserted Ranch, a
place on a dry gulch where someone had started a ranch and
gave it up before completion. Soon after going into camp
here a mule train, consisting of ten four mule teams, drove
from the east and went into camp on the north side of the
road about one hundred yards from us. This was August 7,
1864. This train belonged to Frank Morton, of Sidney, Iowa.
I will speak further of it later.
Early in the morning of August 8, we broke camp and
made what was called a breakfast drive, a very common thing
in those days. We drove to the twenty-one mile point and
went into camp, about ten o'clock for our breakfast. We had
been there but a short time v/hen the stage coach passed us
on double quick time going east and the driver shouted that we
had better get out of that as there Mere ten or twelve dead
men lying in the road a little way above there.
Yet with all this I could hardly believe that there was
anything unusual so I hitched up our team and drove four
miles to the seventeen mile point, seventeen miles from Kear-
ny. While there in camp, about ten o'clock, a company of cav-
alry came up from the fort on double quick. The captain halt-
ed and asked where I camped last night and when I told him at
the old soddy he asked if I saw any Indians. I told him I did
not. "Well," he said, "it's strange, for just where you say
you camped last night it is reported that ten or twelve people
were killed and one woman taken prisoner and their mules
run off and wagons bui^ned."
And now comes the strange part of my story showing that
if such a thing as providence interfering or assisting anyone
it certainly showed its full hand in our case from the time we
turned around at Cottonwood Springs until we passed on and
escaped that massacre knovrn as the Plum Cre-ek massacre.
For "it is a fact that the people killed in that raid were the
same people who camped so near r.s the night before and the
fact that we made an early drive that morning was the only
reason that we escaped. Again, v/hen I tell you that Mrs.
Morton, who was accompanying her husband on this trip, was
an old schoolmate and chum of my wife and the further fact
that tliey failed to recognize each other, in our respective
camps, must be another act credited to Providence. The peo-
ple slain in this outfit consisted of Frank Morton owner of the
outfit, of Sidney, Iowa, and ten vvhite men drivers, and a col-
cred cook. Mrs, Morton wa^: taken prisoner and I believe re-
niained v/ith these Indians for about five months v/hen she
was rescued through some friendly Indians, taken t? Denver
and final] V reached hei- friends again.
Another and most remarkable escape occurred at this
time. About four miles east of our camp was a new ranch
owned by a German called Dutch Smith. On our drive that
morning as vve passed the Smith place he was seated in a bug-
gv at the door and his wife was pleading v/ith him to go along.
They were going to Fort Kearny, but he seemed to be quite
anxious for her to rem.ain home. However, she prevailed, for
v/ithin one half hour they passed us on the road to Fort Kear-
ny. The Indians who committed the murders at the
Morton Camp followed down the road as far as Smith's place,
killed his hired nian, ran off his stock and burned his build-
ings. Whether these different escapes all just happened or
Vv'hetiier the hand of Providence was guiding us are things that
to me are not comprehensible.
In referring back to the episode at Gillm.an's ranch with
the nine Indians I liave come to the conclv^sion that they would
not have harmed us at that time. I consider the Plum Creek
massacre a premeditated attack, as there were depredations
coramitted all along the Overland Trail for a distance of tv/o
hundred miles and thus the little squad who visited us would
not dare to start the scrap until the agreed time arrived.
On our arrival back at the old home and starting point we
concluded that Nebraska was good enough for us and we have
rounr^'icd out a full one h?lf century within her confines. We
have two sons, thi]'teen grandchildren, and five great-grand-
children, all born in Nebraska and all living in the state today,
v/ith out a death in the family for forty-six years.
It is marvelous to stop for a moment to consider what has
taken place in this great America of ours in one half century.
Every mile of railroad west of Minneapolis, Ft. Des Moines and
St. Joseph has been constructed since I settled in Nebraska
Territory, Fort Des Moines, Iowa, being the nearest to a rail-
road at the tinie of my settling in Butler county.
Spanish Expedition Number
NEBRASKA pHlHISTORY
AND RECORD OF
rrONEER DAVS
[ Published Quarterly by the Nebraska State Historical Society
Addison E. Sheldon, Editor
Subscription, $2.00 per year
AH
sustaining
receive
members of the Nebraska State Historical
Nebraska History and other publications
without furthr payment.
Society
Vol.
VI
January-March, 1923
No.
1
CONTENTS
The Battle at the Forks of the Loup and the Platte
August 11, 1720.~Extermmation of the Spanish Army
by Otoe Tribe of Indians.~A New Chapter in Nebraska
History
Translation from French and Spanish Sources by Ad-
dison E. Sheldon
Letter from Rev. M. A. Shine upon New Documents
First Visit of Nebraska Indians to Paris in 1725
Charlevoix Letters on the Massacre of the Spanish
Caravan
With Ten Full Page Illustrations on the Text
Entered as second class matter February 4, 1918, at the Post Office,
Lincoln, Nebraska, under Act August 24, 1912.
]2>«BK>^»<>«»o«a»<i
THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Founded September 25, 1878
The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded Sep-
tember 25, 1878, at a public meeting held in the Commercial
Hotel in Lincoln. About thirty well known citizens of the
State were present. Robert W. Furnas was chosen president
and Professor Samuel Aughey, secretary. Previousto this date,
on August 26, 1867, the State Historical Society and Library
Association was incorporated in order to receive from the State
the gift of the block of ground, now known as Hay market
Square. This original Historical Association held no meetings.
It was superseded by the present State Historical Society.
Present Governing Board
Executive Board — Officers and Elected Members
President, Hamilton B. Lowry, Lincoln
1st V-President, W. E. Hardy, Lincoln
2nd V-President, Rev. M. A. Shine, Plattsmouth
Secretary, Addison E. Sheldon, Lincoln
Treasurer, Don L. Love, Lincoln
James F. Hanson, Fremont
Samuel C. Bassett, Gibbon
John F. Cordeal, McCook
Novia Z. Snell, Lincoln
Robert Harvey, Lincoln
Ex Officio Members
Charles W. Bryan, Governor of Nebraska
Samuel Avery, Chancellor of University of Nebraska
J. P. O'Furey, Hartington, President of Nebraska Press Association
Andrew M. Morrissey, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Nebraska
New Chapter in Nebraska History
Documents from Paris Give Account of Massacre by the
Otoe Triljc of Spanish Militari/ Expedition
on August 11, 1720
Declare That the Fight Took Place on Nehra>ska Soil at
the Junction of the Platte and
Loup Rivers
Unpublished Diary of Spanish Officer Found on the Field
of Battle Gives Account of the March
from Santa Fe.
[A battle between a Spanish army and the Otoe tribe of
Nebraska, fought 203 years ago at the junction of the Loup
and the Platte rivers (adjoining the present city of Colum-
bus.) The complete defeat and destruction of the Spanish
force. Booty from the battlefield carried by Indians to the
French settlements in Illinois and even as far away as the
Straits of Mackinac in Michigan.
The above paragraph summarizes startling Nebraska
news contained in a recent issue of the Journal de la Societe
des Americanistes, published at Paris by a group of French
scholars for the promotion of knowledge of America and cor-
dial relations with its people.
The story of a Spanish expedition and its defeat is not
new. Accounts hitherto published lacked definite information.
They seemed, in some respects, like the wonderful legend of
^enalosa, or the wild tales of Baron la Hontan. or Mathieu
Sagean. all of them locating in the Nebraska region great na-
tions of semi-civilized Indians with high walled cities, great
wealth of gold and silver, fleets, armies and other products of
the imagination. These early accounts of the Spanish Cara-
van were interpreted generally as embellishments of Spanish
raids on the Osage country southeast of Kansas City.
Now comes the learned French editor at Paris furnish-
ing us with unpublished documents — in particular a copy of
a Spanish military note book kept by an officer with the ex-
pedition describing the march and the events preceding the
battle. Based on these new sources — and critical comparison
with the former accounts — the French editor hands us his
NEBRASKA HLSTORY
LEM
DE I/EXPEDITION ESl'AGNOLE
DU MISSOURI
*4I AllCT 1720 .
FA. UF, BiROB MA.RC C.E VILLIERS.
Ellri,,l d„ J«„rnjil d, U S«cUU d„
I Ml. p. ?.»-»».
klT SIEGE DE LA SOCllilK,
Title page of Original French publication translated for tli
publication of Nebraska State Historical Society.
NEBRASKA HISTORY S
opinion all the way from Paris that the Massacre of the Span-
ish took place at the junction of the Loup with the Platte, in
Platte county, Nebraska. He furnishes us with a map show-
ing the location of Indian tribes in this region at the date of
1720 and indicating the site of the battle ground. There is
yet room for more critical study of the text of these docu-
ments with the map of the Kansas-Nebraska region by Ne-
braska scholars qualified by exact knowledge of the country.
But, even so, the new material and the opinion of the Paris
editor give this discovery in Nebraska history an importance
comparable only with the publication, forty years ago, of the
Coronado expedition.]
MASSACRE OF THE SPANISH EXPEDITION OF THE
MISSOURI (AUGUST 11, 1720)
BY BARON MARC DE VILLIERS
(TRANSLATED BY ADDISON E. SHELDON)
FROM THE JOURNAL OF
THE SOCIETY OF AMERICANISTES, PARIS
Warned by the Padouka (Comanche) that French trap-
pers were about to ascend the Missouri to search for mines
and to try to gain possession of New Mexico, the Spanish or-
ganized, in the spring of 1720, an important expedition to ex-
plore the region of the Missouri and to drive from those quar-
ters any French who might already have established them-
selves there. But the Spaniards did not know how to concil-
iate the Indians and their column, in spite of its strong arma-
ment, was completely exterminated by the Otopata, other-
wise called Oto, about 100 kilometers from the Missouri.
Early Accounts of Massacre
Father Charlevoix', Dumont de Montigny== and Le Page
du Pi'atz' have each left us an account of the massacre of the
NOTES
BY BARON MARC DE VILLIERS
1. Hk^ovy of New France. Edition of 1744, v. Ill, p. 246-2.")].
2. Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, 1753, v. II, p. 284-285.
3. History of Louisiana, 1756; v. II, p. 246-251.
by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
NEBRASKA HISTORY
NEBRASKA HISTORY 5
expedition. The 20th letter of Father Charlevoix contains in-
teresting details, especially since they were gathered from
Indians coming directly to Canada-, for all the other versions
which we know came from the savage nations which frequent-
ed only our posts in the Illinois. The account of Le Page du
Pratz, very much more developed and possibly inspired by
that of Dumont, seems at times a little too fantastic and
makes the error of taking the Missouri for the Otoptata and
above all of confounding the Osage with the Pani. As to Du-
mont de Montigny he has quite certainly very much exagger-
ated the force of the Spanish Expedition by making it "1,500
persons, — men. women, and children.-" From 200 to 250
Europeans, accompanied by several hundreds of Indian car-
riers, probably started from Santa Fe. But, as three-fourths
of the members of the expedition returned to New Mexico for
various reasons, the column after crossing the river of the
Kanza included scarcely more than 200 persons, of whom 60
were Spaniards.
New Documents Found.
Three unpublished documents, preserved in the archives
of the Hydrographic Service of the Marine and of the Minister
of War, enable us to correct or to complete the accounts of the
three first historians of Louisiana, and to establish, for the
first time, that the expedition of the Spaniards was extermin-
ated on August 11 or i2. 1720 by the Otoptata Indians (Oto)%
acting in concert with the Pani-Maha (Loup or Skidi) and
perhaps some Missouri, upon the banks of the river Platte
(Nebraska) and very probably near its junction with the Loup
river (Loup Fork).
In 1720 France and Spain were at war. We had just
seized the port of Pensacola and driven — for the moment —
the Spaniards from their post of Adayes^ It would seem en-
tirely natural to see the governor of New Mexico seeking to
take an easy revenge against our posts, very poorly defended,
4. This letter is dated at Michillimakinac, July 21, 1721. But
Charlevoix wrote out the greater part of his letters, or at least revised
them entirely, after his return to France.
5. Bossu, who in recopying, alM^ays exaggerates, speaks of more
than 1,500 guns! New Voyages to West Indies, \. I, p. 175.
6. The names written in italic are those adopted by the Handbook
of American Indians, published by the Bureau of American Ethnology.
7. Founded to watcl) our e.^t-iblishment of Natchtotochez, located
on Red river.
6 NEBRASKA HISTORY
in the Illinois. However, when one knows the fundamental
policy of the Spaniards, all of whose efforts tended to main-
tain a large zone of mystery between Louisiana and New^ Mex-
ico, this reason alone seems quite insufficient.
John Law's Mississippi Bubble.
The 60-odd unhappy Spaniards massacred by tbe Otop-
tata, were, in truth, the obscure and unfortunate victims of
the system of John Law and the fantastic schemes of the
Company of the Indies. The great number of mining tools
which this expedition carried, the colonists with their live-
stock which it conducted, show that the Spaniards did not
limit themselves to the plan of keeping the French at a dis-
tance from New Mexico, but above all, cherished the hope of
seizing the fabled mines of the Missouri, so well advertised on
the Rue-Quinquempoix.
Certainly in the springtime of 1720 the Mississippi Craze
had already greatly diminished. At Paris they sang:
The mines, — we will rummage in 'em
For no doubt we'll find something in 'em
— If Nature ever put it in 'em.
And very few people in Europe still believed in boulders of
emerald and mountains of silver in Louisiana. But the news
of this recent skepticism had not yet had time to reach Santa
Fe in New Mexico.
Oto Tribe — Various Names.
Most of the early authors who concern themselves with
Upper Louisiana speak of the Otoptata and nearly all the 18th
century maps of America indicate their habitat^ with consid-
eerable accuracy. But the name of these Indians^ is written
in many forms and one encounters indifferently Ototacta,
Octotact, Onatotchite, Otontata, Huatoctoto, Othouez, etc.
In 1724 Venyard De Bourmont, later the author of the Rela-
tion of his Journey-' called them Hoto and Otho, and it is this
name of Oto which the Americans have preserved for the last
survivors of this nation which is perpetuated even to our own
time".
8. We might cite: . Franquelin, Le Page du Pratz, d'Anville,
Vaugondys, Bowen, etc.
,9. The Ha^ndbook of American Indians notes more than seventy
of them, and that list is yet to be completed!
10. Mavgry, v. VI, p. 396 and 402.
11. Tlie census of 1906 still numbers 390 of them.
* See notes by Addison K. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 7
According to Father Charlevoix "The Octotatas are people
related to the Aiouez (now lowas) from whom it is even said
they are descended." This information agrees with the class-
ification of the Handbook of American Indians, in which the
Iowa, the Oto and the Missouri are grouped with the great
Siouan family. An unfinished Spanish manuscript, a compil-
ation of undated and unsigned documents, makes the Oto de-
scendants of the Missouri. This collection indicates that at
the beginning of the 19th century the Oto numbered 500
souls, of whom 120 were warriors; that they often intermar-
I'ied with the Kansas, and protected in disdainful manner the
Missouri, reduced then to only 80 warriors. At this period
the Oto were allies of the Pani, properly called Grand Pani
(Pawnees Chaui), of the Sawl^ee (Sawk) and the Zorro (Ren-
ards or Foxes). They were at war with the Maha (Omaha),
Poncare (Ponca), Sioux, Great and Little Osage, and also with
the Caneci (Lipan or Apache) and the Lobo (Skidi).
The Platte and Nemaha Rivers.
It is believed that the original Oto, then living in the
present state of Iowa, first dwelt near the mouth of the Great
Nemaha i-iver'% before they fixed their home on the right
bank of the liver of the Pani whicli the Mallet brothers chris-
tened on June 2, 1739, with the name of Plate. This name so
w^ell characterizes this river that it remains to our day, with
the spelling Platte.-^' The Otoe never removed far from this re-
gion and, though driven many times toward the south during
the course of the 19th century, they still occupied in 1882," a
I'eserve located in the central part of the present state of Ne-
braska.
12. This river falls into the Missouii a little north of the south-
east corner of the State of Nebraska.
13. The Indians rail this river Nebraska, the educated Spani-,h
translate the name Plate in Someio, the others ijito Plata which n.ea.cs
silver! And the Americans themselves, at times have given it tliut
of Swallow — (perhaps Shallow?)
14. The Oto wei-e at that date removed to Indian Territory.
* See notes by Addison K. Sheldon on. pages 29-;i1.
NEBRASKA HISTORY
Chon-moni-case or Shau-mone-kusse, (called by the white fui'-
traders letan ) is the most noted chief of the Otoe tribe in the early
American period. He was one of those prominent at the great council
of the Otoe tribe with Major Long Oct. 3, 1819, at their camp about six
miles above Florence, near Fort Lisa. He was then a young man alid
this portrait as made at that period. Later he became a head chief.
He was killed April 28, 1837, in a fight with young Otoes who had run
away with one of his wives. Moses Merrill, first missionary to the
Otoe, saw the fight and wrote the story of it in his diary. The great
Otoe village where letan ruled was three miles southeast of the present
village of Yutan. There are many remains of this village still visible.
They were photographed by the editor of this magazine in 1912. Yutan
was named in honor of this Otoe chief.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 9
Nebraska Indians Journey to Paris.
About 1714 the grand chief of the Otoptata descended
the Mississippi to meet Bienville, and died at Biloxi. Ten
years later another chief of this nation accompanied M. De
Bourmont to Paris, The nations on the Missouri had designed
to send to France ten delegates, — one Otoptata, four Osage
and five Missouri, one of whom was a young woman. But the
Council of the Colony, for reasons of economy, held back five
and permitted to go only the young Missouri woman, one
Otoptata and one Osage, one Missouri, one Illinois and Chi-
cagou, ambassador of the Metchigamias.
The (Indian) envoys arrived at Paris on September 20,
1725, and were received by the duke of Bourbon, the duchess
of Orleans and the directors of the Company of the Indies.
They were then presented to the king by Rev. Father de
Beaubois (S. J.) who delivered to Louis XV a necklace of
friendship sent by Mamantonense, chief of the Metchigamias,
Kaokias and Tamarois'% with a speech'« given by Chicagou".
This orator had, a few days before, wished the duchess of
Orleans "to be fruitful in great warriors like the ancestors of
your husband and yourself."
These Indians from Louisiana were, for sometime, all the
rage at Paris. They received beautiful blue suits with gold
lace. At the Bois de Bolougne, before the court, they hunted
deer "in their own style, that is by chasing" and they gave
war dances at the opera and the Italian theatre. If we may
believe Bossu one of these Indian envoys recalled thirty years
afterward the perfumes so extravagantly used by Paris ladies
and declared that "they smelled like alligators."
Nebraska Orator at Paris.
One of the three representatives of the Otoptatas, Osages
and Missouris, we do not know which, died on the journey, and
one of his companions pronounced an oration for the deceased
in the name of all the Indians of the Missouri. Here are two
charming passages from the translation made in prose and
verse of his address before the king:
"Twelve whole moons have passed since we left our land
(that is, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa,) November, 1724 to ap-
pear here. One of our chiefs is dead on the way, the others
gave up, or remained on the seashore, (that is, in New Or-
is. The Michijjamea, Cahokia and TamaSroa were Indian tribes
closely related to the Illinois.
16. Chicagou was still living in 1762. See Bossu, New Voyages to
West Indies, 1768, v. I, p. 157.
17. See Dumont, Hi.storical Memoirs of Louisiana v. II, p. 76.
* See notes l)y Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
10 NEBRASKA HISTORY
leans.) We are ashamed to see our plain speech. We bring with
us furs and the work of our squaws. You will not think them
of much worth, since you have in abundance, things so much
more beautiful, but everything was lost in the first ship which
w^as to bring us across^* we cannot wonder enough at the
beautiful things which we see every day. We are very happy
in the treatment given us since we arrived in this land ; we had
not been so before we arrived here'^ The tribes represent to
you :
1. Not to abandon them and they ask the French as much
to keep friendship as to provide for their needs.
2. That they have never had any one to teach them to
pray save only a white collar^" who came to them a little time
ago, whom they are happy to have and beseech you to send
others.
3. They beg you to send us back entrusted with your
message and they will look on all upon this side (the great
water) in order that they may see you again.
4. That the French having made known to us all, that you
think in all this country, and that the stores which are here
are from you. We are in your hands give to our bodies. (Sic) .
Verses in Honor.
So much eloquence drove an anonymous versemaker to
put in rhyme the prose of the Indians of the Missouri. =>
Great Chief, Master of Life, Spirit Grand,
We have come to behold thee in the bosom of thy land!
And, given heart to cross the seas and their distress,
' We arrive, without regret, from our dark wilderness.
From thy soul there flashes upon our grosser soal
A light we would gladly take for our control,
Thy subjects, soldieirs, court, with astonishment we own.
Thy lordly power, the glory of thy person and thy throne,
Thy cities, and thy gardens, thy mansions and thy sports.
Our nations brave all offer thee with willing hearts
Their services in battle with their strong arms and darts.
Send to our hunting grounds, under thy sway,
Thy Frenchmen, thy goods, thy white collars to play.
18. La Bretonnie,
19. Always economizing, the Council of Louisiana had allowed the
Indians, during their voyage only Sailors' rations, without wine or fresh
meat, food to which the savages were not accustomed. Happily for
them Bourmont bought food for them with his own money.
20. A father of the Mission Etrangeres. (Foreign Missions.)
21. Library of the Arsenal. Manuscript No. 3724, pages 77-81.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 11
"Missouri Princess".
As for the "Missouri Princess" — she was baptiled at
(the church) of Notre Dame of Paris, then married to Ser-
geant Dubois, one of the companions of Bourmont during his
journey of 1724 to the Padowkas. Dubois scarcely reaped
the reward of his promotion to be commissioned officer and
his appointment as King's inteipreter for the nation of the
Ilhnois — which he received on the occasion of his marriage,
for he perished at the massacre of the garrison, of the fort
of Orleans of the Missouri, If one may believe Dumont
Madame Dubois caused the assassination of her husband, but
that statement seems to us hardly probable. In any event
she married again a little later a captain of militia of Illinois
named Marin. Bossu saw at Paris in 1751 two children of
the "Princess. "~~
Ancient Home of Otoe Tribe.
At the time which concerns us the Oto lived on the south
bank of the river Platte, most of the time, it seems, near the
point where the course of that river turns shaiply in the
southern direction. It is difficult to locate the point with
greater certainty, first, because the Indians lived in a number
of villages^' and during the 18th century drew, little by little,
closer to the Missouri river, and second, because the explor-
ers who give the number of leagues (figures varying) which
separate the Oto from the Missouri, have failed for the most
part to inform us whether they reckoned the distances by the
direct trail across country or by following the great bend of
the river.=*
The Pani— Maha.
The exact location of the Pani-Maha seems a little more
difficult. These Indians, who certainly played a very import-
ant role in the massacre of the Spaniards, lived in 1720 north
of the river Platte, along the different branches of the river
which was generally given the name "River of the Pani-
Maha," but later received the name of Loup which it still
bears.'-'-
22. New Voyages in North America, 1777, p. 227.
23. "The Ottoes" says the Spanish manuscript aiready cited, "Do
not claim the exclusive possession of any territory, and do not fix any
boundaries to their own lands. They are hospitable, cultivate the soil
in the same way as the Kansa and Osage. They hunt on the salt
marshes of the lake of Nimnehaw."
24. In 1794 Truteau reckoned twelve leagues, by water, and Clark,
ten years later, only eight. But neither one had ever gone up the river
Platte, rarely navigable.
25. Bienville expressly asserted it. The Missouri also declared
they took part in the Massacre. (Margry, v. VI, p. 450).
* See notos by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
12
NEBRASKA HISTORY
Pes-ke-le-cha-oo
Was a noted Pawnee chief in the early period of the 19th century.
He was one of the chiefs chosen to visit Washing-ton some time prior to
1825 and confer with the president. His portrait was painted at that
time. On his return he became one of the strong advocates of friendly
relations with the white men in the councils of the Pawnee nation. He
had seen the great cities filled with white people, their g'reat guns,
ships and factories and he never tired of relating the sights of this \'isit.
In 1826 a war party of Osage raided the Pawnee villages. Pes-ke-le-
cha-co killed an Osage. He rushed forward to lay his hand on the dead
warrior — one of the highest honors in wai-. In the struggle to prevent
this Pes-ke-le-cha-co was slain. His deeds were long related around
the camp fires of the Pawnee nation.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 13
The Pani-Maha were evidently part of the great nation
of Pani (Pawnee) but seem to have formed a branch some-
what distinct from the other tribes, of whom the nearest was
the Grand Pani sometimes called simply Pani — and the Pani-
Piqiie, often formerly called White Pani. These latter were
more fi-iendly to the Spaniards than to the French. Nothing
forbids conceding (with the Handbook of American Indians)
that the Pani-Maha were the direct ancestors of the Pani-
Loup, Loup or Skidi='^ who lived in thje same region sixty years
later. The independence of the Pani-Maha, in opposition to
the other Pani, and the complex formation of their name
might well arise from a fusion, common enough with Indians,
— between one tribe of Pani and a group of Maha^ — which
nation for so long a time wandered along the Missouri and
one tribe of which was located at the beginning of the 18th
century near the Oto.
The Loup", in any event, had without doubt forgotten
their double (surmised) parentage, for they were later often
at war with the white Pani and the Maha.
Spanish Officer's Note Book.
Let us now proceed to the history of the Spanish Expedi-
tion. And here, at the start, are the last leaves of the note
book of the journey by a Spanish officer. These are the only
records, unfortunately, which the Indians brought to M. de
Boisbriant, commandant of the province of Illinois:
Translation of a leaf from a journal in Spanish, found at the
defeat of a detachment of that nation by the Otoptata.^^
(On the margin — "Also written Ouatotchata").
"The trails which we find lead us to a place where we be-
lieve we shall get information of a band which, by all appear-
ances, is not very far distant from some village. We resolve
to camp in order to see what there is for us to do.
26. Many derivations have been proposed for this name, but all
come from a root which means "wolf."
27. These Mahas, now called Omaha, belonged to the Siouan group
as did the Kanza and the Osage, but in spite of the relation, they hardly
understand the speech of nations living north of the river Platte.'
28. At the beginning of the 19th century their number was upward of
1,000 of whom 260 were warriors.
29. War Department. MSS. No. 2592, folio 100. Also Colonies
Cahier Book C13, Chapter IV, folios 235-235. The translations are dif-
ferent.
14 NEBRASKA HISTORY
The lieutenant general having assembled all the officers
on duty and on leave, and the natives, told them that a sav-
age had reported to him that he had found some branches
and leaves of fresh sand cherries which seemed to be the
fragments of a meal of some band which had passed very re-
cently. He then gav-e an estimate of the distance we had
traveled, which in our reckoning was about 300 leagues. He
then took counsel whether we should wait for orders from
the Viceroy of New Spain, who had sent the detachment to
discover from the savage nations if any French had establish-
ed themselves in the region, or whether, since we had thus
far found no proof of such establishment, we should con-
tinue our search with the Panane^" nation (the only one which
could give light on the question) and how we should commun-
icate with them.
Names of Spanish Officers.
The military council was composed of Captain Thomas
Aulguin, Aide-de-camp Joseph Domingue, Ensign Bernard
Cazille; Captains Manuel Theverio de Albas, Alonzo Reald,
Pierre Lucan; Corporals Joseph Gregoire, Manuel Thenonorio
de Alba, Laurent Rodrigue; Captain Christophe de la Serne-
and Captain Jean Arhive; these two last named are natives.
All were of opinion that we ought to find the Panane in
order to leam from them the truth or to know whether the
Apaches had deceived us — that for this purpose the detach-
ment should cross the river and thereafter proceed in thelBest
^^'ay to carry out the plan proposed.
Crossing Gr^eat River Full of Islands.
Upon this resolve the lieutenant general ordered certain
savages to locate the ford of the river so that the detachment
might cross to the other shore. In the afternoon we began
to carry over the baggage on travois upon the backs of the
savages. It was not possible to get it across otherwise. The
great number of islands in the river makes navigation by
boats absolutely impracticable. Since one day did not suffice
to transport everything our camp was divided that night by
the river. Besides we did not wish to expose our natives by
crossing at night, because it was so cold.
30. It is the name which the Spanish gave the Pani.
31. These proper names are spelled in different ways. Sometimes
one finds Cerise.
* See notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 15
Wednesday 7 of August.
At the break of day we crossed over the remainder of
our baggage and people to the other side of the river of
Jesus-Maria. This was not without much trouble, but af last
we found ourselves together at noon.
Thursdaj^ 8,
We leave the river Jesus-Maria following the trail of the
Panane. The native Captain Serne boasted that he kno\vs the
trail well. He lost" his way, however, and came back to camp.
He was sent out again and with him Captain Joseph Nar-
vanno, four corporals and two soldiers. A servant of Captain
Serne, Panane by nation, said that he remembered, although
he had left it when very young, that the village of his tribe
was located on the bank of a river far to the north. Our sol-
diers were ordered to find out the truth of his statement.
They were ordered at the same time when they were near
the village to let the savage talk alone with his people, to tell
them they had nothing to fear, that we were Spaniards, their
friends. And in case they found no one in the village to go
such distance as would enable them to return to camp the
same day or ensuing night.
Another Large Stream Crossed.
Since we left the river Jesus-Maria we have taken care
to follow th'8 trail which we found before us and which we
believe was made by the Panane. We found, at a league from
the river a large creek which it was necessary to cross and
we thought from the water which was very warm that it was
a branch of the river whose course was from west to east.
We then marched over a plain, following always the trail of
those who had gone before us. W^e saw a number of trees a
league away and we met one of our savages who was of Cap-
tain Narrans detachment and w^ho had orders to wait for us
to tell us to follow the creek and that he would follow the trail
of those gone ahead since they found no one in the villages.
The camp arrived at the bank of the creek and, as it was im-
possible to cross with our arms, we were obliged to keep along
its bank and follow the same route as that taken by Captain
Narrans. We had already travelled three leagues to reach
the creek; we marched thiee more to arrive at a plain. Fin-
ally we halted in order that those following might not lose
the way. At the same time two savages arrived from Cap-
tain Narrans to tell the lieutenant general that he should not
worry if the captain did not return to camp that ensuing
night, that he was following the trail of the Panane who, ac-
16
NEBRASKA HISTORY
NEBRASKA HISTORY 17
cording to all indications, were not far off, and that the main
command might march since he counted on rejoining them
v-ery soon.
Friday 9.
The camp being ready to march we saw, at more than a
league's distance, some one approaching at a gallop. We were
in advance and we found that it was one of our people who
had been at the discovery. They told us that, eight leagues
distant, on the other side of the creek we were following,
thy found the Panane in a bottom, singing and dancing ac-
cording to custom of the savages. They seemed to be in great
numbers. They had not judged it wise to approach nearer
to them for fear of frightening them away during the night.
Upon this news order was at once given to cross to the
other side of the creek. It was carried out with so much good
fortune that everything went over without getting wet, al-
though the mules were up to their girths in the w^ater. We
marched three leagues along the creek and found it conven-
ient to halt at five leagues distant from the tribe, according
to the report of those who brought in the news.
Council with Panane or Pawnee Nation.
As soon as we were in camp the lieutenant general sent
the savage of Captain Serne to visit and talk with those of
his nation, assuring them of our friendship and good will, and
that we were taking this means of letting them know our
good faith. Although the lieutenant general wished to send
two soldiers with the savage to see that he was not insulted
by those of his nation, the native told him that he had nothing
to fear and that it was better to go alone, that if the' soldiers
accompanied him they might believe that there was deception
and bad faith in what he proposed to them. This was agreed
to and the savage started at 11 a. m. to see his nation. May
God and the Holy Virgin, his mother, give him success. The
general named the creek Saint Lawrence. The river Jesus-
Maria makes a junction with this creek at the place where we
are, in such manner that if we had not already crossed it
would be impossible to do so.
At 6 p. m. we saw Francois Sistaca, which is the name
of the savage of Don Christophe de la Serne, coming on the
gallop. He related to the lieutenant general and all the others
that he had been to see the band seen dancing the night be-
fore and, not finding it, he had followed the creek and had
seen them crossing to the other side where they had a village
and many people. He stopped atj:he bank of the creek, dis-
* See notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
18
NEBRASKA HISTORY
NEBRASKA HISTORY 19
mounted, and called to the people crossing the river, making
the signs of friendship and peace used by savages. As soon
as he was seen many savages came to him and, among others,
four at the head of them with tomahawks in hand, without
bows or arrows, making cries, and seeing them approach
within a stone's throw, he was afraid, made a sign with his
cap as though he were calling people back of him and mount-
ing his horse he galloped eight leagues to camp without stop-
ping.
Saturday 10th of the month.
Feast day of the glorious Martyr, Saint Lawrence (died
Aug. 10, A. D. 258). The camp marched along the river, fol-
lowing the band (of savages) and having discovered on the
other side of the creek a village with a number of -houses and
people passing from one side to the other by a ford, making
calls easily heard because only the creek was between us, we
made the signs of peace and friendship spoken of before.
Twenty-five or thirty savages came to the edge of the creek
to talk with us. We heard easily what they said. The sav-
age of Don Christophe la Serne, who recognized the language
of his nation, told the lieutenant general that they asked for
peace and that he should come into their village.
They made signs looking at the sun^*- which meant that
the Spaniards need wait only one day for their visit. At once
the savage of Don Christophe La Seme resolved to cross over
to the other side in spite of the fear he had the day before.
The camp halted opposite the village and the savage took olf
his clothing in order to swim across, with consent of his mas-
ter. The lieutenant general told him to tell his nation that
he would come and visit them with no design of doing them
the least injury, as they could easily see since he had just dis-
covered them without any strategems, as he might have done
when he learned they were singing and dancing not more than
two leagues distant. Thus they might confer with us in en-
tire safety for peace and the friendly union which should ex-
ist between brothers and subjects of the same king. The
lieutenant general gave tobacco for the savage to carry to
them, which is the usual custom at these meetings.
32. A party of Pani-Maha on a hunting expedition had evidently
retreated before the Spaniards in oi*der to draw them to the country
of the Otoptata. But the Pani-Maha had a species of religion based
on the worship of a certain number of stars and their cliief villager
were always arranged in a certain relation to each other. On thi.*^ ac-
count, no doubt, these signs which the Spaniards interpreted in their
own way.
20
NEBRASKA HISTORY
Shar-i-tav-ish was a principal chief of tlie Grand Pawnee tribe.
He was son of another chief of the same name mentioned as Char-ac-
tar-ish by Lieutenant Pike who met him at the Grand Pawnee village
on the Republican river in 1806. The subject of this portrait succeeded
his elder brother, Ta-re-ca-wa-ho as head chief. The latter was invited
to visit the president at Washington, but refused because he thought
the Pawnee the greatest people on earth and would not condescend to
go in person. He sent Shar-i-tar-ish in his stead. Shar-i-tar-ish was
then a young man, six feet tall, well proportioned and of fine appear-
ance. His portrait was made at Washington. Soon after his return
he became head chief and died a little later, aged thirty. He was suc-
ceeded by Ish-ca-te-pi sometimes spelled Is-ka-tap-pi and called "The
Wicked Chief."
NEBRASKA HISTORY 21
End of Military Note Book.
The last leaves of the record of this journal \vere evident-
ly lost like those of the beginning. However, as we Know
that the massacre of the Spaniards took place the day after
their meeting with the Optoptata and their allies, there is
every ground for supposing that the manuscript ended at the
date of August 10, 1720 and that its author was killed the
next day.
News of the Massacre Carried to the Trench.
At any rate the news of the disaster to the expedition
was known in all its details at Kaskaskia about tlje beginning
of November. The first rumors of it probably arrived a
month earlier, for it seems the same event referred to in the
following letter. However, since the Spaniards were not al-
ways in a body, the letter may refer to an isolated detach-
ment.
Slavery and Human Sacrifice in Nebraska Region.
"All the nations of the Missouri" wrote Boisbriant on
October 5, 1720'-', "have made peace with the Pani-Maha, but
they utterly refuse to consider with the Padoka. The Otop-
tata and the Canzes have been at war with the latter (Pad-
oka). They have taken 250 slaves. As in the village where
they have taken these there were many Spaniards, twenty of
these are among the slain. This news has been brought to
Sieur Boisbriant by four Frenchman whom he had given
permission to go and buy horses from the Panyouessa^^
(Wichita). Before the arrival of these Frencl\ that nation
had also defeated a village of Padoka. It had led away 100
slaves whom it had burned without mercy from day to day.
Our French ransomed four or five from the flames, but their
generosity was ill rewarded. The wretches ran away a little
later and carried with them, the clothing of their liberators."
and further on "A Spaniard escaped from the defeat re-
corded above. He is with the Canzes (Kansas). We have
written a Frenchman who is on the Missouri, to ransom the
Spaniard and bring him this fall to Sieur Boisbriant. He
hopes to draw from the Spaniard information of the com-
merce which the Spanish carry on with the savages and to
learn from him if there are mines in that tuegion."
33. Letter dated at Kaskakias.
34. According to the Handbook of American Indians the Paniouessa
were the Wichita. It is necessary to concede that these Indians lived
at that time not far from the river of the Kanza.
* See notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
22
NEBRASKA HISTORY
Chon-ca-pe, sometimes written Shunk-co-pe, was also called "Big
Kanzas." He lived in the first half of the 19th century. He was a
signer of the treaty of 1825 made at Council Bluffs, between the United
States and the Otoe tribe. Soon after he was called to Washington to
meet the president. At this visit this portrait was made. The grizzly
bear necklace is a trophy of a victory over one of those fierce animals.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 23
On November 22, 1720, Boisbriant gave more precise in-
formation.
"The Spaniards to the number of 250, accompanied by
the Padoka" nation, came to make an establishment on the
Missouri. On the way they defeated five"= nations. The com-
mandant beheved, after one splendid victory, he M-as strong-
enough to withstand anything. He sent part of his force to
conduct the slaves taken in the villages he had destroyed and
advanced within 15 leagues of the Otoptata. His plan, was
to extirpate that nation. He had with him then 60 Spaniards
and 150 Padokas.
Oto Deceive the Spaniards.
The Otoptata, warned by the Pani-Maha of the Spanish
approach, marched to meet him. They called themselves
Pani-Maha, which was rendered easier since they spoke the
language of the Pani-Maha as though their native language.
The Spanish commander, deceived, asked if there were any
French on the Missouri river and assured them that he would
give them a great quantity of goods if they would deliver
French into his hands. They replied that there were French
with the Otoptata and that they would make it easy for him
to capture them. They passed the night together, but in
very different ways. The Otoptata danced, the Padoka fled
from fear, while the Spaniards, abandoned by their allies
kept on their guard. The Spaniards feared nothing, since
they trusted in such a great number of the pretended Pani-
Maha.
35. The Padouka (Comanche) are allies to the great Shoshonea.i
family whose diverse branches, located at first in the north, successively
occupied a wide territory which stretched from Va.icouver Island as
far as Texas. In 1720 the Padouka dwelt near the headwaters of the
Kansas. It was there that Bourgmont in 1724 came to visit them in
order to break their alliance with the Spaniards. But these Indians,
essentially nomads, living in tents, always at war with their neighbors,
later emigrated south and crossed the Red river. By virtue of infor-
mation we may point out that this author of the Spanish manuscript
already cited, who very well knew the Indians of Texas, was astonished
because, in spite of his extensive researches he 'was not able to under-
stand what had become of the great nation of the Padouka which
numbered 2,000 warriors — and, in consequence, supposed that these In-
dians dispersed and formed the following nations: Wetepahatoe (one
of the tribes of the Kiowa), Kiawa, Kanenawish, Kalteka, Dotame, etc.
36. Two of these tiibes, according to Father Charlevoix made part
of the Otoptata nation, but this statement seems doubtful.
NEBRASKA HISTORY
NEBRASKA HISTORY aS
Oto Destroy the Spanish Army.
On the next day the savages proposed an Iroquois dance.
The Spaniards agreed and unloaded their mules m order to
rest. About two o'clock in the afternoon the Otoptata asked
lor the lances of the Spaniards for their dancers to use in the
dance and they were granted them." The chief of the sav-
ages during the dance formed his warriors in groups about
the Spaniards who were always under arms. When he saw
everything arranged as he wished he fired a pistol upon the
Spanish. At the signal all his men attacked with such im-
petuosity that all the Spaniards were killed in less than an
instant. Only four of them were quick enough to mount their
horses and drive their mules ahead of them. But some young
warriors seized their quivers, shot and killed two of them.
The two sole survivors of the sixty Spaniards pushed on to-
ward Mexico, which they could reach with difficulty depriv-
eu as they were of all provisions.
The chaplain of the detachment was made prisoner. The
Otoptata chief was bringing him to Sieur Boisbriant, but the
chief was compelled to turn back on receiving news that the
Renards (Fox) had come to attack his village. A man nained
Chevallier was ordered to go in search of the chaplain. '
Spaniards Plan to Colonize Nebraska Country.
This undertaking of the Spanish shows the necessity of
establishing a post on the Missouri. They brought with them
a large number of oxen, cows and sheep which proves their
purpose to make a permanent settlement.
Booty from the Battlefield.
According to Charlevoix there were two chaplains. "All
that was told me" said he "related to the chaplain who was
slain and from whom was taken a book of prayers which I
have not seen. It was apparently his breviary. I purchased
his pistol, his shoes were worthless, and the savage would not
part with the ointment because when taken it was a sovereign
remedy for all kinds of ills. I was curious to know how he
used it and he replied that it was enough to swallow a little
at a time and whatever illness one had he was instantly cur-
ed. He assured m>e that he had not yet tried it and I coun-
selled him not to do so. We find the savages here very coarse.
There is much need of spirituality or at least that their minds
should be as open as those who have had more intercourse
withjas/*
37. According- to Dumont the Spaniards, after having made a treaty
with the Indians, had given them arms to attack the French. He adds
what seems correct (after correcting the names) that the Oto and their
allies, taken for Pani by the Spaniards, learned from the mouth of the
latter (the Spaniards) that they had come to destroy them (the Oto).
* See notis by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
26 NEBRASKA HISTORY
The spoils of. the Spaniards were spattered everywhere.
The letter of Charlevoix is dated at Michillimakinac. The
following one was written to the Illinois by the engineer
Lallemand who explored the mines of the Maramek river re-
gion,
' 'The Spaniards of New Mexico"^'* Says he "came three or
four months ago with the design to establish themselves on
the Missouri. They had with them a number of mules loaded
with all kinds of tools to work the mines. They drove with
mem a number of cows and sheep. In this array they arriv-
ed at a nation called Octotata, two hundred leagues from
here."
"They took only 40 days to reach the Octotata. It is pre-
sumed that they did not move rapidly on account of the bag-
gage and the animals which they brought with them,"^»
Distance from Santa Fe to Nebraska Country.
"It is believed that it is not more than 120 leagues^" from
New Mexico to the Octotata. These savages say there is a
fort built of stone four days journey from where they are."
"On their way they killed and destroyed many savage
nations. They flattered themselves they Would finish the
others. The affair turned our differently."
Account of Charlevoix.
"The Octotata who were on the hunt learned all the
cruelties which the Spanish had inflicted on their neighbors.
They dissimulated and came to the number of 60 to smoke
the pipe of peace with their new hosts, the Spaniards, who
suspected nothing. The savages all of a sudden gave a great
cry which was the signal to strike them down, they did this
so well only one remained. The mules took fright and fled on
the run with their loads. The prisoner whom the savages had
c^3tured was a monk of San Juan de Dios. He escaped a little
later. The savages were foolish enough to let him have a
horse in order to show them how to ride one." His shrewd-
ness had been too smart for them and he fled with all speed.
Since then it is learned that other Spaniards had returned to
the attack and that they had met the same fate as the first,
excepting one whom thei savages would send here at once. M.
38. This letter is dated April 5, 1721.
39. This note is found on the margin of the document.
40. This figure is, manifestly, incorrect. The figure of 300 leagues,
as given by the Spaniards, approaches very much nearer to the tinith,
41. Charlevoix says that the Chaplain who escaped from the
"Missouristes" was a remarkable horseman and the Indians who, ac-
cording to Dumont, did not know how to manage a horse, greatly ad-
mired his skill. Before fleeing the "Jacobin" had nad the foresight
to prepare a package of food.
' Sees notes by Addison E. Slieldon on pages 29-31.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 27
de Boisbriant has shown me several documenfs written in
Spanish, among others one which is marked Esquadras with
the names of those who apparently were on guard for that
day. The other papers are songs or hymns and prayers to
the Virgin. There are some leaves of the breviary oi^ the
Spanish monk and some rosaries with their crosses, evident
proof that the savages have not made up a tale. From this
it must appear that there are rich mines on the Missouri
since the Spaniards wish to penetrate there whether desired
or not."
Hope of Mines in Missouri River Region.
Poor Lallement who, in spite of his efforts, never suc-
ceeded in discovering in the region of the river Maramek any-
thing but very poor mines difficult to work, had not yet lost
his illusions. It was for him a deadly irony, the news of the
death of the Spanish prospectors, duped like himself by the
chimerical prospectus of the Company of the Indies, coming
just at this time to beguile him.
In Le Page du Pratz there is a long account, very pictur-
esque but fantastic, of the arrival at Kaskaskia of Indians
bearing the spoils of the Spaniards. His account would make
one think a whole convent had been massacred, so much one
glimpses of defiling of chasubLas, of stoles, of surplices, of
crosses and candlesticks.
Rut what is for us more interesting Du Pratz adds:
Spanish Maps of Nebraska Region.
"The Indians brought with them the map which .had so
ill-guided the Spaniards. After having examined it, it seems
to me better, for the west of our colony which is toward them,
than for the region which concerns us. According to this
map it appears that the Red River and the Arkansas must
bend more than I have said and that the source of the Mis-
souri is more to the west than shown by our geographers —
since the Spaniards sh^juld know that region better than the
French who have given notes upon it."
Where Did Massacre Take Place?
Let us now see whether the documents which precede, in
spite of theii- apparent lack of certainty, may not, in reality,
be sufficiently exact to determine with satisfactory approx-
imation, the place where the massacre of the Spaniards oc-
curred.
Not in Osage Country.
Let us observe, at the start, that the expedition did not
go to the Osage,'- as Le Page du Pratz believed, but to the
Pani, most of whose tribes then dwelt to the north of or along
• See notes by Addison B. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
28 NEBRASKA HISTORY
the middle course of the river Platte. The Spanish officers
seemed much better informed than that author thinks and
would therefore seek to avoid contact with the Osage who
had always shown themselves faithful allies of the French.
On the other hand the Spanish, who held only distant friend-
ly relations (except with the Apache and Padoka) could
hardly yet have knowledge of the peace, quite recent, between
the Pani-Maha and our allies the Missouri, the Oto and the
Kanza.
The Platte or Kansas River?
The geographic hints contained in the last leaves of the
note book of the route furnish only rather vague information
and the author seems a little lost among the divers branches
which join the river "Jesus-Maria." However, since it must
relate to some affluent of the Kanzas — or of the river Platte
— the description seems precise enough to show that the
river, not navigable and full of islands, which the Spaniards
in search of the Parv, crossed on the 7th and 8th of August,
1720, (after having traveled 300 leagues) could be none other
than the river Platte, whose name indicates'^ that it is as
broad as it is shallow.
So far as the Creek of "Saint Lawrence", a veritable
river, since the mules could hardly cross it in the month of
August, in studying the map of this region, and in compar-
ing the place then inhabited by the Oto, with the various dis-
tances indicated which otherwise show remarkable agree-
ment, one may, we believe, identify it most surely with the
Loup Fork and the name of this river comes from the sur-
name of the tribe of Loup Indians, which our trappers gave
at another time to the later Pani-Maha along its banks.
Paris Editor Believes it was at Junction of Loup and Platte.
The Spanish expedition was, then, exterminated on Au-
gust 11, 1720, by the Oto and Pani-Maha at a point below,
but very near, the junction of the Loup Fork and the river
Platte. This place is in fact, located in a straight line about
25 leagues from the Missouri. And the disaster according
to Boisbriant, occurred about 15 leagues west of the Otoptata
who dwelt about 8 hours in an air line, from Missouri.
When once the gold mines had vanished it does not seem
that the Spaniards renewed their efforts, although this dis-
patch from Bienville on April 25, 1722, reports:
"I learned a little while ago, from the savages of the
Missouri, that the Spaniards of New Mexico calculated to re-
turn and demand satisfaction from those who defeated them,
and to make at the same time, a settlement upon the river of
the Kanzes (Kansas) which flows into Missouri."
NEBRASKA HISTORY 29
Revenge on the French.
And one might also ask whether it was not at the insti-
gation of the Spaniards that the Indians massacred, about
1725-26, under mysterious circumstances the garrison of Fort
d'Orleans," then reduced on account of economy, to 8 men.
It was then, we have ah-eady stated, commanded by Dubois,
the first husband of the "Princess of the Missouri."
42. A tribe of this nation lived at this period a little below the
junction of the Missouri and the Kanzas but most of the Osage lived
in the valley of the river which still bears their name.
43. "It is only navigable for very small hunting canoes," Journal
of Truteau (American Historical Review, January 1914.) Perrin du
Lac says' that one can navigate it only in the springtime.
44. This fort whose site is not exactly known was located on the
Missouri a few leagues above its junction with Grand river.
NOTES BY ADDISON E. SHELDON
Page 3
1. Under the title, "The Spanish Caravan", Sheldon's "History and
Stories of Nebraska", first edition published in 1913, gave a summa)-y
of what was then known upon this subject anrl a critical review of con-
jectures upon it. The new information contained in this article clears
up many of the conjectures and gives us an historical basis for the real
story. 1
2. The discovery of new documents upon Louisiana and the Missouri
river region in the last 20 years has been full of interesting encourage-
ment. These documents were generally sent from New Orleans to
France or to Spain during the 18th century. They were filed away in
pigeon holes from which they are now being rescued by the diligent
scholarship of Europe and America.
3. The books mentioned by the French editor in his notes 1, 2, 3, are
the chief bases of our knowledge of the French Province of Louisiana
as it was 150 years ago. The Missouri country (including Nebraska)
was even then known in its general features from reports of French
far-traders.
4. Pierre Francois Xavier de Charlevoix, born 29 October, 1682, died
1 February, 1761. Twice visited Canada. Wrote "History of New
France" and "Journal and Letters" of his travels.
' Page 6
5. Pierre Margry, born 8 December, 1818, at Paris. Died 27 March,
1894, at Paris. He was author of many important books on early his-
tory of America — most valuable of them six volumes on French and
Spanish explorations entitled "Memoires et Documents pour servir a
I'histoire des oi-igines francaises des pays d'outremer." Volume six of
this series contains the most important documents relating to the Mis-
souri river region including the present Nebraska. (See a fine article
on Margry's life work in the Louisiana Histoi'ical Quarterly for April,
1922.)
80 NEBRASKA HISTORY
6. John Law, born in 1671, died 1729, was a shrewd Scotch economist
and proiroter. His most famous financial promotion was the Company
of the Indies. This company sold shares to the French public based
upon the expectation of great profit from the region known as the Pro-
vince of Louisiana, including the present Nebraska. The company had
the support of the French government and a practical monopoly of the
French foreign trade. The immediate expectation of profit was from
the development of mines in the Missouri river region. These mines
were reported as having vast quantities of all kinds of metals. The
shares in the Indies Company rose to a premium of 4,000%. A perfect
craze to make fortunes out of the undeveloped resources in the Mississ-
ippi Valley seized the French public. It was impossible for these ex-
pectations to be realized at once, and, after a period of three years of
the wildest speculation, the company went up in smoke and its share-
holders were ruined. This is called "The Mississippi Bubble." It was
accompanied with a large issue of paper money through the Royal Bank
controlled by John Law.
7. The Rue Quinquempoix was the location of the stock-exchange at
Paris in 1720. It corresponded in the popular language with the
Am.erJcan phrase "Wall Street."
8. The oi'iginal French is more musical and sarcastic than the best
translation:
Les Mines, Ton y fouillera
Car, sans doute on en trouvera
Si la Nature en a mis!
9. The Otoe occupied in general, southeastern Nebraska a century
ago. The salt basin at Lincoln was near the dividing line between
territory claimed by the Pawnee and claimed by the Otoe. Both tribes
gathered salt at the basin. In, 1868-70 bands of Otoe and bands of
Pawnee camped frequently on the liomestead in Seward county, where
the editor of this magazine lived as a boy.
Page 7
10. Morse's Geography of the World (copy dated 1805 in the Histori-
cal Society library) has the legend "R. Plate or Shallow R.", upon the
chief stream, on the map in the Nebraska region. The French editor
(or his printer) has simply misspelled the word in suggesting that the
river is ever called "Swallow." In the Otoe language Ne-brath-ka
means Water Shallow.
Page 9
11. This chief of the Metchigamias is the original from which the
name of the m.odern city of Chicago is derived.
Page 11 ;
12. "Salt Marshes of the Lake of Nimnehaw" is the earliest reference
I have found in literature to the Nemaha river. It suggests that the
early explorers had the idea that the salt basin at Lincoln was connected
with the streams we now call Nemaha.
13. (By section lines the site of the great Otoe village near Yutan is
25 miles west and about eleven north of the mouth of the Platte. This
village was the capital city of the Otoe tribe for 100 years or more.
Its remains today cover 640 acres of land. * i
NEBRASKA HISTORY 31
Page 14
14. "Fresh Sanil Cherries." In the original French "des feuilles
d'Oloues ( ? ) fraiches." The Paris editor inserts the question mark
into the Spanish text, evide'iitly not understanding what kind of wild
fruit is meant. Any one familiar with the Platte Valley in the month
of August knows that sand cherries are the most abundant fniit to be
found and most likely to be the one eaten by this bana of Indians.
15. "The great number of islands in the river" certainly fits the Platte
better than any other stream between Santa Fe and the Missouri river.
Page 17
16. The junction of the river Jesus-Maria with the creek named St.
Lawrence by the Spanish comma;hder "in such a manner that if we had
not already crossed it w^ould be impossible to do so," suggests one of
three difficulties, great depth of water, very swift current or difficult
banks. Either of the first two would fit the junction of the Loup and
the Platte today.
Page 21
17. Early records of the plains Indians clearly show a system of
slavery or servitude for captives. Human sacrifice is known to have
existed among the Pawnee in Nebraska, with many citations on that
point.
Page 25
18. "An Iroquois dance." IThe Iroquois tribe set the style in dancing
for all other Indian tribes in North America. More than thirty differ-
ent Iroquois dances are described by competent writers on the subject.
Each dance had a distinct style and signification.
Page 26
•19. The distance from Santa Fe" to the junction of the Loup ajid the
Platte, as measured in air line across the map today is 619 miles. The
distance by railroad, via Denver from Columbus, Nebraska to Santa Fe
is 965 miles. The league unit of measurement is about 3 miles. The
French kilometre is about 3-5th of a mile.
Page 27
20. Mines in the Missouri region. All the early explorers got the
idea of very rich mines in the region now occupied by the states of Mis-
souri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. There ai-e in fact rich mines in
that region, but not the kind either the Spanish or French could utilize
at that time. A number of early references to "Spanish Mines," on
the Weeping Water refer beyond doubt to the excavations on the Pol-
lard farm at Nehawka, studied twenty years ago by Curator Blackman
and others of the Nebraska State Historical Society. About forty
acres of limestone hill is tunnelled and dug in a most extraordinary
manner, probably by Indians searching for flint. Early fur-traders
saw this hill and carried report down the Missouri of Spanish mines on
the Weeping Water. There w-ei'e expert advertising geniuses in 1720
as well as in 1923.
52 NEBRASKA HISTORY
LETTER FROM REV. M. A. SHINE ON
THE MASSACRE OF THE SPANISH EXPEDITION
Plattsmoutb, Nebr., July 5, 1923.
Dear Mr. Sheldon:
Being somewhat pressed for time, it has been impossible for me to
give as much attention to Baron de Villiers Article, as I wouUl wish.
However, having read the original French article, and your excel-
lent and substantial translation of the same, I most certainly agree with
you, that this article on the Villasur Expedition of 1720, is of great
historical importance to Nebraska. i
The thi-ee new documents, namely, the Leaf from the Spanish jour-
nal of the expedition; the letter of Governor Boisbriant, dated Novem-
ber 22, 1720; and the Mining Engineer Lallemand's letter of April 5,
]721, give us some new and contemporaneous evidence of the expedition.
Hitherto, the reports have been very conflicting and confusing, and
the scene of the massacre has been variously located.
While I was inclined to follow the opinions of Prof. John B. Dunbar,
and William Dunn, m favor of the North Platte location, after reading
that Spanish Leaf, I am now convinced that the Bar^n de Villier's lo-
cation conforms more closely to the Leaf's description, than does the
North Platte, and consequently the scene of the massacre would be
somewhere in the vicinity of the present Linwood, Nebr.
Various dates are given for the occurrence, and we know that
Felipe de Tamaris, one of the soldiers that escaped the massacre,
brouglit the news of the Spanish defeat to Santa Fe, on September 6,
1720. There were a few other survivors.
The Chaplain, who was slain, was Father Juan Minguez, a Fran-
ciscan, who was stationed in Santa Fe in 1705; at Zuni, in 1706 and
later at Nambe, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Missions in New Mexico.
The route of the expedition, was generally northeast, from Santa
Fe to Jicarilla, (now in Conejos County, Colorado,) then to Cuai'telejo,
in Scott County, Kansas, and from there to the Jesus-Maria, or Platte
ri\'er, a little southwest of the mouth of Prairie Creek.
It now appears that it was the Loup river that was named St.
liawrence in honor of that famous martyr, whose feast day falls on
August tenth. Undoubtedly some Spanish documents will be found,
that will ihrow more light on the event.
MICHAEL A. SHINE.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 33
FIRST VISIT
of
NEBRASKA INDIANS TO PARIS
IN 1725
. The following account of the first visit of Indians from
the Nebraska region to the King of France, and Royal court
at Paris is furnished by Rev. M. A. Shine, of Platfsmouth.
The original article appeared in the London Postman, Jan-
uary 27, 1726. It was copied into the United States Catholic
Historical Magazine for April, 1890, where it was found by
Father Shine. It confirms the account translated from the
Journal des Americanistes in many respects and adds to our
knowledge of the relation of the Indians of the Missouri val-
ley to France two centuries ago:
ILLINOIS, OSAGE AND OTOPTATA CHIEFS
IN PARIS, IN 1725.
Since our last, came in the mail due from Holland with a
farther Account from Paris of the four Savages of Missis-
sippi :
■ On the 28th of November, the four Chiefs, and the Sav-
age Maid were again presented to the Company, (of the
Indies) when the Chief of the Illinois, as a Christian, and an
ancient Ally of the French, presented his Speech to the Comp-
troller General, and the three other Chiefs also presented
theirs in the name of their Three Nations, which were read
by the Company's Secretary.
The speech of the Illinois to the India Company, was as
follows :
"The Black Gown'-= tells me that you are some of the
most eminent Men of the French Nation, whom the King has
made Chiefs of Mississippi. I am ashamed to be so little in
comparison with you. Tho' I am Chief of my Village, and
esteemed in my own Country, I am nothing ; but I love Prayer
and the French. Therefore, you ought to love me and and to
love my Nation, which has always been allied to the French.
"The French are with us. We have yielded them the
country which we possess in Cassakias. We are very well
pleased with them, but we don't like to see them come and
mingle themselves with us, and to take up their Habitations
in the midst of our Village and our Deserts. 'Tis my Opinion
that you who are great Chiefs, should leave us Masters of the
country where we have placed our Fire.
^Indians commonly called a priest a "black gown."
34 NEBRASKA HISTORY
"I am come hither to see the Kin^ in the Name of my
Nation and my young People. When shall I see him? All
the fine Things I see are nothing if I do not see the King, our
true Father and yours, and if I do not hear His Word to re-
port them to my young people.
"1 was dead some Days ago, but now I am reviv'd, be-
cause great Care has been taken of me. I thank you for it,
and hoRe that you will continue it. In short, because you are
our Chiefs, speak kindly to me that my young People may be
pleas'd when I see them again, and that they may perceive
that you are well disposed towards us. This is what I had to
say to you, who am vour Son, and a Friend of the French."
CHICAGOU.
The following Speech was made to. the India Company by
the Chiefs of the Indian Nations call'd Missoury, Osages, and
Otoptata.
" 'Tis now Twelve entire Moons since we set out from
our lands to this Country. One of our Chiefs dy'd by the way,
the others were left on the Sea Shore.
"We were given to understand that the King and Com-
pany demanded some of each of our Nations. We are here
now before you, but still ignorant of what you want with us.
"We aie ashamed to sec that we have nothing worth
your acceptance. We brought with us some Skins and the
Workmanship of our Wives, which you that have abundance
of fine things of more importance M'ould not have valued, but
all was lost in the first Ship that was to have carry'd us.
"We can't sufficiently admire the fine things which we
see every day, Things which we shall never forget, and which
will re Joyce all to whom we relate them.
"We are very well pleas'd with the Treatment we have
met with since we came to this Country, but were uneasy till
we arrived.
"Our Seniors each for his Nation, have enjoyn'd and
charged us to lay their Demands before you.
1. "They desire you not to abandon them, and hope the
French will not only furnish their necessities, but maintain
their union.
2. "They complain that they never had any Body among
them to instruct them to pray, but one White Band** lately
come thither, with whom they are well pleased.
3. "They desire you to send us back furnish'd with your
Promise. They are all looking this way to see us again.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 35
4. "The French have told us that you consider well in all
this Country, and that the Magazines there are yours. We
are in your power. Consider how to dispose of your Bodies.
After the reading these Speeches, the Comptroller Gen-
eral ordered his Answer to be read to all of them, which was
composed with that Spirit proper for conversing with that
People, and the better to be understood by means of their In-
terpreters. He gave a Copy of it to each of their Chiefs.
Then he caused the presents of the Company to be de-
livered to them, consisting of a Habit compleatly French, be^
ing a blue Coat with Silver Buttons and Buttonholes, scarlet
Waste coats, embvoider'd with Silver, red Breeches and Hose,
Silver Lac'd Hats, some with red and others with blue
Feathers, six ruffled Shirts, six Necks, etc. A Savage Habit,
consisting of a Cloth Wrapper, five Quarters wide, with Silver
Lace two Inches above the List, which is left there, because
the Savages reckon it an Ornament, a Braguet, which is a
quarter of an Ell of scarlet Cloth adorned with silver Lace
above the Selvage. This they make use of to cover their Nu-
dities. And a pair of Mitase, which are Cloth Stockings half
blue and half red, which comes up to the Thigh, and are ty'd
with Ribbonds to their Sashes.
The Dress presented to the Savage Girl, was a Damask
Gown of Flame Colour, with Gold Flowers, an under Petticoat
of the/same, a Panier, two pair of Boddice, six Lac'd Shifts,
and Ribbonds of Gold and Silver, and a pair of Silk Stockings.
THE ANSWER OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF
THE FRENCH INDIA COMPANY, TO THE SPEECH OF
THE FOUR SAVAGES
INSERTED IN OUR LAST, WHICH ANSWER WAS
PRONOUNCED BY THE COMPANY'S SECRETARY.
Hear Illinois, Missoury, Osages and Otoptata:
"I am very glad that you have heard the Speech of the
Company, I see you here with Pleasure. The Company will
always think of you, and can never forget your saying.
"They know, Illinois, that you are a Man of Prayer.
They conjecture that you Missoury, you Osages, you Optata
will hear the Words of the Missionaries that shall be sent
unto you.
You have seen how many People the great Onontio
(King) commands. You cannot but know how his Riches and
Magnificence by his Palaces and Gardens where you have
been.
36 NEBRASKA HISTORY
"This great Onontio is he whom we all obey. He is our
Father and the Governor of Louisiana is his Interpreter. He
has kindled the Fire of his Council at New Orleans. 'Tis
from thence all our Thoughts ought to proceed. Hearken not
to any other Words but such as shall be deliver'd to you from
the place. They will be the Words of the Great Onontio. If
you hear them, the Roads will be free, and you will have very
good Hunting.
"The Company, who loves you, and takes you into their
very Bosom, gives you Tobacco to make your hearts merry,
to disperse any clouds that might overcast your Minds, and
to keep you in good Humor till you depart. They also give
you Cloaths for you to wear here, and others, after the Fash-
ion of your own Nation, They made the like provision for
the good Woman that is come with you."
On the 22d of November these Savages set out for Foun-
tainbleau. On the 24th, they were carried about to all the
Princes and Princesses and other Lords and Ladies of the
Court, who were fond to see Savages whom to their Surprise
they found to have as much Spirit and ,good Sense as other
Men. At night, the Comptroller General carried them to the
Duke of Bourbon, to whom the Illinois made the following
Speech :
GREAT CHIEF, MY FATHER,
"I know that your Ancestors were mighty Men and great
Warriours, who often dy'd their Helmets with the Blood of the
Enemies of the French, At this Day you are without your
Helmets because there are no Enemies; but you have given
to the French their true Mother, who is above all the great
women in the World, This is more than beating an enemy.
I know also that the Father of the French loves you, and that
he commits his Children to your care, and that he hears your
Words. Learn therefore of him to be always truly the Father
of the French and ours ; cause him to think of us, and to love
me and my Nation, May you also love us as much as I ad-
mire you, and may you be of Opinion that you can never love
us too much."
The Duke of Bourbon answer'd the Illinois, That he was
much obliged for the advantageous Idea he had of him, and
that he could not return a better Answer to his Compliment
that by assuring him that he looked upon as a Chief and a
great Warriour, and by promising to take Care that he re-
turns away contented, and more attached than ever to the
French nation.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 37
His Serene Highness afterwards received the compl-
ments of Missoury, Osages and Otoptata, and when he had
return'd a civil answer to each, promised to present them next
Day to the King as he came from hunting, which he accord-
ingly did, and introduced them all dress'd in their Savage
Habits into the King's Cabinet, when Father Beaubois pre-
sented his Majesty the Illinois and a letter from the Grand
Chief, and made the following speech:
SIRE,
"This Savage, who has the honor to appear before your
Majesty, is no ordinary Man. Yet tho' the Chief of his vil-
lage, and one of the most considerable of his Nation, he has
nothing of that Pomp and Grandeur which surround Princes,
and which render them so venerable to the people who are
under 'em, these being things unknowji in America. But
what your Majesty will no doubt value him for is, that this
Indian, born as one may say in another World, and brought
up in the middle of Forests, could conceive so high an Idea
of your Grandeur, as so earnestly to desire to see it nearer,
and to come and pay you Homage. An unhappy Shipwreck,
which chang'd the minds of those who accompanied him, did
not intimidate him, and since he has been in France, the sight
of what has been the Astonishment of all Foreigners, has
still made him the more eager of seeing the Monarch of so
potent an Empire. The most considerable Chief of all the Ill-
inois nation has a thousand times enjoy'd the happiness of
this, as himself ingenuously owns to your Majesty, and has,
as one may say, a thousand times regretted that he is so
necessary to the French nation in his own country. Vouch-
safe, Sire, kindly to receive the Letter which he presumes to
send to your Majesty, and be pleased to return a favorable
Answer.
"For my Part, Sire, I think myself very happy, that I
have this Day the Honour of approaching your Throne, there
to be Witness of the Wonders which France admires in your
Sacred Person. Permit me. Sire, to beg your Majesty's Roy-
al Protection for the Missions of Louisiana, that vast Pro-
"ince^ where there cannot be too many for the welfare of your
Colony, and to procure to the many Savage nations that in-
habit it, the Knowledge of the True God. Lewis le Grand of
Glorious Memory, always made it his delight to protect those
whom Providence honours with so holy a Ministry, and there-
by to demonstrate that Zeal he had fo)- the Propagation of
the Faith. Being Heir, Sire, of his Heroick Virtues, as you
are of his rich Diadem, do you show the same Zeal, which
38 np:braska history
cannot but be infinitely glorious to you. We have a Rigtit it
seems to expect it from your Piety, which appeared so emi-
nently in the Choice you have made of the most virtuous
Princess of the world, to place her by you on the most August
Throne in the Universe.
Extracts from Charlevoix Letters.
(From a letter dated at Michillimackinac, April 5, 1721)
Volume II, Pages 63-65
Next day, the chiefs of the two nations paid me a visit;
and one of the Otchagras showed me a Catalonian pistol, a
pair of Spanish shoes, and 1 do not know what drug, which
appeared to me to be a sort of ointment. All this they had
received from one of the Aiouez, and the following is the oc-
casion, by means of which these things fell into the hands
of this person.
About two years ago, some Spaniards, who had come as
they say, from New Mexico, with design to penetrate as far
as the country of the Illinois, and to drive the French out of
it, whom they saw with extreme regret approach so near the
Missouri, descended this river and attacked two villages of
the Octotatas, a people in alliance with the Aiouez, from
whom it is pretended they draw their origin. As these In-
dians had no fire-arms, and being besides surprised, the Span-
iards easily succeeded in their enterprize, and made a great
slaughter of them. A third village of the same nation, and
at no great distance from the two others, making no doubt
that the conquerors would pay them a visit, laid an ambush-
cade for them, into which the Spaniards blindly stumbled.
Others say, that the Indians having learned that the Span-
iards had almost all of them got drunk, and were sleeping in
great security, fell upon them in the night; and it is certain
they cut the throats of almost every one of them.
There were two chaplains in this party, one of whom
was killed in the beginning of the afi:"air, and the other saved
himself amongst the Missourites who kept him prisoner, and
from whom he made his escape in a very dexterous manner.
He happened to have a very fine horse, and the Missourites
delighting in beholding him perform feats of horsemanship,
he took the advantage of their curiosity, in order to get out
of their hands. One day as he was scampering about in their
presence, he withdrew insensibly to a distance, when clapping
spurs to his horse, he instantly disappeared. As they made
no other prisoner but him, it is not yet exactly known neither
from what pai't of New Mexico these Spaniards came, nor
NEBRASKA HISTORY 39
with what desig-n ; for what I first told you of the affair, was
founded upon the reports of the Indians only, who perhaps
had a mind to make their court to us by giving- it to be under-
stood, that they had done us a very material piece of service
))y this defeat.
All they brought me was the spoils of the chaplain who
had been killed, and they found likewise a prayer-book, which
I have not seen: this was probably his breviary, I bought
the pistol; the shoes were good for nothing; and the Indian
would by no means part with the ointment, having taken it
into his head, that it was a sovereign remedy against all sorts
of evils. I was curious to know how he intended to make
use of it ; he answered that it was sufficient to swallow a little
Oi it, and let the disease be what it would the cure was im-
mediate; he did not say however that he had as yet made
trial of it, and I advised him against it. The Indians begin
here to be very ignorant, and are very far from being so sen-
sible or at least so communicative, as those who have more
commerce with us.
Volume II Page 218
On the tenth about nine in the morning, after sailing five
leagues on the Mississippi, we arrived at the mouth of the
Missouri, which lies north-west and south-south-east, H-ere
is the finest confluence of two rivers that, I believe, is to be
met with in the whole world, each of them being: about half
a league in breadtii ; but the Missouri is by far the' most rapid
of the two, and seems to enter the Mississippi like a conquer-
or, carrying its white waters unmixed across its channel quite
to the opposite side; this colour it afterwards communicates
to the Mississippi, which henceforth it never loses, but hurls
with precipitation to the sea itself.
40
NEBRASKA HISTORY
Shau-han-napo-tinia was a noted chief of the loway tribe. His
name means "Man who Killed Three Sioux". He was also called
Moano-honga or Great Walker. His boy chum was killed at the age
of 19 by the Sioux. Shau-hau-napo-tinia rushed into a Sioux village of
400 lodges killed one warrior and two squaws. He returned with their
scalps. He went to Washington in 1837 when this portrait was made.
STATEMENT OF THE OAVNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, CIRCULA-
TION, ETC., REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF CONGRESS
OF AUGUST 24, 1912,
Of Nebraska Hist. & Record of Pioneer Days publiLhed Quarterly at
Lincoln, Nebraska for April 1, 1923.
State of Nebraska )
County of Lancaster \ ^^'
Before me, a Notary Public in and for the State and county afore-
said, personally appearedA. E. Sheldon, who, having been duly sworn
according to law, deposes and says that he is the Editor and Business
Manager of the Nebr. Hist. & Record of Pioneer Days and that the fol-
lowing is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of
the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation), etc.,
of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, re-
quired by the Act of August 24, 1912, embodied in section 443, Postal
Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit:
1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing
editor, and business managers are:
Name of — Post office address —
Publisher Nebraska State Historical Society Lincoln, Nebraska
Editor A. E. Sheldon Lincoln, Nebraska
Managing Editor A. E. Sheldon Lincoln, Nebraska
Business Managers A. E. Sheldon Lincoln, Nebraska
2. That the owner is: (If the publication is owned bj an individual his
name and address, or if ovraed by more than one individual the name and
address of each, should be given below; if the publication is owned by a
corporation the name of the corporation and the namef> and addresses of
the stockholders owning or holding one per cent or more of the total
amount of stock should be given.)
Nebraska State Historical Society
3. That tho known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders
owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mort-
gages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.)
None.
4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the own-
ers, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the list
of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of
the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder
appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fidu-
ciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such
trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain
statements embracing affiants's fidl knowledge and belief as to the cir-
cumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders
who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees hold stock
and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner; and
this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association,
or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds,
or other securities than as so stated by him.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2rd day of August, 1923.
A. E. SHELDON.
Max Westennann, Notary Public.
(My commission expires August 4, 1927.)
(Seal)
HECKMAN
BINDERY INC.
DEC 94
■P\^^J N. MANCHESTER,
INDIANA 46962