SEMI-CENTENNIAL

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA

Historical Sketch

BY

A. E. SHELDON, A. M.

Director of Field Work,

Nebraska State Historical Society

Illustrations, State and County Statistics, Public

Buildings and Biographical Sketches

BY

THE LEMON PUBLISHING COMPANY

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

1904

Copyrighted 1904

By The Lemon Publishing Company

Lincoln, Nebraska.

FOREWORD

     Touching the history of the world fifty years is but a short stroke of the pendulum, yet what marvelous achievements are wrought during that fleeting swing of time! The purpose of this volume is to review the development of a great commonwealth, Nebraska, at the close of her semi-centennial, and to recount the principal incidents preparatory to Statehood. For the successful execution of the purpose outlined it has been our good fortune,--and that of the reader as well,--to secure the services of Prof. A. E. Sheldon, A. M., whose elaborate investigations and extensive study of the history of Nebraska, have eminently qualified him for the task. Supplementary to this historical sketch, and realizing that the best aid to comprehension is comparison, we have sought to assist by a comparative showing, the reader's appreciation of the remarkable progress of a pioneer people. As such accomplishments are attained only through the activities of a sturdy race it is therefore assumed that a history conforming to the needs of the busy life is most essential. With this thought the main points in the state's history are presented, and comparative illustrations of her resources and industries shown. Many of the illustrations have been made for special use in this history and are published for the first time. To the heroic, progressive Nebraskan this work is sincerely dedicated.

FRANK L. LEMON.

@ 2002 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller