LOCATION--FOUNDED IN 1857--EMIGRANTS ON A MISSOURI STEAMER ORGANIZE A COLONY--BEATRICE IN 1861--ALBERT TOWLE--GOVERNOR BUTLER--FIRST HOMESTEAD--FIRST METHODIST PREACHER--FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING--INDIANS--TERRIBLE MASSACRE--THE GREAT CHANGE.
EATRICE,
the county-seat of Gage County, is one of the beautiful cities of
Nebraska, and is situated on the banks of the Blue River, one of the
lovely streams of the State. It is forty miles south of Lincoln, the
capital of Nebraska, and some seventy miles west of the Missouri
River. It was founded in 1857, and named Beatrice in honor of Judge
Kinney's daughter. It is supposed that the name was originally
derived from the beautiful woman whom Dante has immortalized in his
poems, and the object of his devotion. One of the most beautiful of
women, she was the emblematical personification of divine wisdom. It
was the thought of her lover that a being so pure and lovely could
not stay long on the earth. God seemed to have created her for one of
his angels, and at the age of twenty-four
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years took her to himself in heaven. The name, Beatrice, suggests
beauty, purity, and wisdom. Whether the city of Beatrice can claim
all these admirable traits or not, is a question. One thing is
certain, however, it can claim the first-named--beauty. Its location
can not be surpassed in loveliness, and we may, truthfully say:
"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole" people, is
Beatrice.
In the spring of 1857, a steamer
weighed anchor at St. Louis, Missouri, floated out into the center of
the Mississippi River, and, with her prow set for the head-waters of
the Missouri, began slowly to move up against the mighty current of
the "Father of Waters." On board of that steamer were some three
hundred passengers,--many of them the deluded followers of Brigham
Young. Their faces were turned to the "city of Zion," located in a
safe retreat amid the mountain fastnesses of the far-away West.
Others were looking to the plains of "bleeding Kansas," while quite a
number had their eyes fixed on the new and inviting Territory of
Nebraska.
The Missouri River is full of snags and
sandbars, and is a very dangerous stream to navigate. As this steamer
moved slowly up the turbid and treacherous stream, nearing Kansas
City, she struck a sand-bar, stuck fast, and remained for some time.
This was not the first time, however,
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the steamer had grounded, yet this was the most serious accident
of the kind on that memorable voyage. While the boat lay upon that
sand-bar, and the weary hours passed by, to break the monotony and
relieve the restlessness of the passengers, a colony was organized,
from among the passengers, for the purpose of locating in Nebraska.
That organization framed a constitution and by-laws, and thirty-five
persons signed the written agreement.. Among the signers of that
instrument were Albert Towle, J. B. Weston, Judge John F. Kinney, and
others who have since occupied positions of trust and honor in the
State. This colony located, platted, and named the city of
Beatrice.
As stated elsewhere, in 1861 I was
appointed to the Nebraska City District, which comprised all the
territory south of the Platte River; and Beatrice was one of my
appointments. I first visited the place in 1861. At that time there
was a blacksmith-shop, a store, kept by Joseph Saunders, with about
as many goods as two or three men could carry in their arms, and
three or four dwelling-houses. During my first visit to the place I
was kindly entertained by Brother Albert Towle and his estimable
wife, and ever afterwards met a royal welcome at their hospitable
home. Their house was always the home of the Methodist itinerant.
They worked hard and
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made sacrifices for the Church. To them, more than any other two perhaps, is due the credit and honor of laying the foundations of the Church in the city of Beatrice. Although Brother Towle was not a member of the Church, he was as moral and upright in his walk as any who were members; and when he came to die gave assurances to his family that he was prepared to go. Sister Towle told the writer that her husband said to her not long before he passed away that perhaps he had made a mistake in not joining the Church, and if he had his life to live over again he would connect himself with the Church. While I believe there are many good Christians out of the Church, and many who have lived and died Christians who never belonged to any Church organization, still I believe it is far better for us personally, and our influence for good will be much greater if connected with the Church than otherwise. The Church was instituted for our benefit, and we ought to avail ourselves of her sacred privileges. It is not only a great privilege to be identified with the visible Church, but it is, at the same time, a duty to make that public "confession before men" on which Christ, the head of the Church, has laid so much stress. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven."
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Brother Towle was familiarly known
as " Pap." Every body called him " Pap," and every one loved him
almost as a child loves its affectionate parent. He was postmaster
from the organization of the place until the day of his death, and
had he lived, would, without doubt, still have held that position.
His name, and that of his amiable wife, are embalmed in the hearts of
a grateful people.
The following story is told on David
Butler, who afterwards became governor of the State: During the war
he was recruiting officer and came to Beatrice for volunteers. He
stopped at "Pap's cabin," which was a favorite resort in that early
day. In the evening, as he was talking with Mr. Towle, the young men
began to come in, and each one saluted him as "Pap." About ten had
gathered in when Mr. Butler asked Mr. Towle to take a walk. They
walked some distance and sat down, when Mr. Butler began explaining
how badly the Government was in need of troops, and hinted about the
size and ability of the "boys" of his family. Mr. Towle listened
attentively to all that was said, and seemed very greatly interested.
When Mr. Butler had discussed the matter sufficiently he asked him if
he would not spare some of his boys, and Mr. Towle said he would
spare all the boys he had.
"How many boys have you, Mr. Towle
?"
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"Why, bless you, man, mine are all
daughters, and I have not a boy to my name," said Mr. Towle.
The first quarterly meeting on the
Beatrice Circuit, in 1861, was held on Cub Creek, some four miles, if
I remember correctly, north-west of Beatrice. I reached the village
Friday evening, and staid over night at Brother Towle's. On Saturday
morning, Brother Towle ordered out his two-horse wagon, and Sister
Towle, three of the daughters, some of the neighbors, and myself, got
in and rode out to the quarterly meeting. The meeting was held in a
grove on the farm of Brother Kilpatrick. He had made ample
arrangements for the meeting, and we were most royally entertained
during the meeting at his cabin. Brother Kilpatrick long ago passed
to his home in the skies. That first quarterly meeting on the
Beatrice charge will never be forgotten.
In 1879, Brother Towle passed
peacefully away to his heavenly home, and ten years afterwards was
followed by his beloved wife, both honored and respected by all.
The first homestead ever taken under
the "United States Homestead Law" was near the city of Beatrice. To
Daniel Freeman belongs this honor. His claim was on Cub Creek, four
miles west of Beatrice, and not far from where I held the quarterly
meeting above referred to.
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The Homestead Law was enacted in
1862, and Mr. Freeman took his claim January 1, 1863, the day the act
went into effect. His patent is numbered 1, and is recorded in Volume
I, on page 1, of the Records of the General Land Office at
Washington.
At the third session of the Kansas and
Nebraska Conference, held at Topeka, Kansas Territory, April 15-19,
1868, Beatrice was placed on the Conference Minutes as one of the
appointments of the Nebraska City District, and left to be supplied.
At the next session of the Conference, held in Omaha, Nebraska
Territory, April 14-18, 1859, no members were reported. At this
Conference J. N. Foster was appointed pastor. During the year Brother
Foster organized a class at Beatrice, one at Blue Springs, and at
various other points on the circuit organized classes.
For a number of years the growth of the
Church at Beatrice, as well as at other points, was slow. In 1870 a
small stone church was erected, and on November 13th of that year I
had the honor and privilege of preaching the dedicatory sermon, and
of consecrating the house to the worship of Almighty God. Brother
William Presson, was the successful pastor at the time. The
dedicatory services throughout were attended with the divine presence
and power, and the people were greatly rejoiced in having
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a beautiful and comfortable church in which to worship God. In
1881, after having been on district-work for ten successive years, I
was appointed to the Beatrice Station, and served the Church two
years. During the first year God gave us a most gracious revival of
religion, and over one hundred and thirty were converted.
In 1886, under the labors of Brother W.
K. Beans, the present beautiful edifice was erected, and named
"Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church of Beatrice." Soon after, the
West Beatrice Church was built; and now there are two thriving
Methodist Churches in this rapidly growing city. Other denominations
have been very active, and have kept pace with the growth of the
place.
In 1864, while holding a quarterly
meeting on the Brownville Circuit, word came that the counties west
of the Blue River were being raided by the Indians, and that men,
women, and children were being slaughtered indiscriminately. It was
reported that the Indians had reached Beatrice, the village had been
burned, and the settlers who had not fallen victims to the merciless
and blood-thirsty savages, were fleeing as fast as possible to the
Missouri River. The report created intense excitement at the meeting,
and many felt like starting at once for the defense of the frontier
settlers. It was soon ascertained, however, that,
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while the Indians were driving everything before them as they moved towards the east, and were massacring the whites wherever they could reach them, they had not harmed Beatrice. The people in and around the town were greatly alarmed, and the excitement was at white heat. The settlers from the West came pouring into the village, and a strong corral was made around the old mill, where the frightened refugees remained for ten days. A company of men was organized, and started out to meet the murderous Sioux. This company of brave pioneers met a band of these savages on the Little Blue, and defeated them. The battle was a sharp and severe one, and two honored and highly respected citizens of Gage County, M. C. Kelley and J. H. Butler, fell mortally wounded. Although Gage County paid dearly for the relief and safety of her neighbors, the result was the Indians were panic-smitten, and instead of pushing their way further eastward, began at once to retreat to the west, and Beatrice was saved from their ravage. This raid, made upon the settlers all the way west of Beatrice to Fort Kearney, was one of the most complete and destructive ever made in the State. The raid was previously arranged with all the Indians along the route for two hundred miles, the exact time set, and to every settlement a band of Indians allotted. This was during the
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war, and it was thought that this awful massacre was instigated by
white men--white men with hearts as dark as any that ever beat in the
breasts of the most cruel Red-men of the plains.
The 7th day of August, 1864, was the
day set for the simultaneous attack of every settlement west of
Beatrice to Fort Kearney. It was the Sabbath, and many of the people
had gathered together at the different stations along the road, and
at different places in the different settlements for religious
worship. No fear of the Indians disturbed the peaceful hearts of the
settlers. The sun rose in splendor, poured his genial light over the
beautiful prairies, and all nature rejoiced. On that calm and lovely
morning the noble pioneers who had come to Nebraska to procure for
themselves homes, felt just as secure as they had in their old homes
in the East. Little did they dream that the day begun so bright
should close so dark. Every station and settlement was attacked
within ten minutes of the first, so perfect was the execution of this
most carefully planned and cold-blooded massacre. The Indians
appeared at the stations as they were in the habit of doing, and as
usual were warmly received and kindly treated by the whites. Then,
without a moment's warning, they began to shoot down their helpless
victims, mutilating
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their bodies, burning their houses, and carrying away all they
could.
I have no plea whatever to make for the
Indians in their cruel and dastardly work, for many of their
atrocious crimes are without a single palliating circumstance. Yet I
am compelled to say that, in many instances, the treatment of the
Indian by the white man has been just as cruel as the treatment of
the white man by the Indian. I would indeed be glad if I could say
only Indian hands have been stained with human blood; but alas! I can
not. The hands of many white men have dripped with the innocent blood
of the Indian. The white men who instigated the above massacre were
just as guilty as the Indians who executed it.
A white man, in cold blood, without the
least provocation whatever, shot and instantly killed an Indian squaw
near where the city of Lincoln now stands, leaving her husband, the
Indian brave, to pass on alone without any redress whatever. A party
of Mormons, passing through St. Joseph, bought a cow that they might
have a supply of milk, while crossing the plains to Salt Lake, for a
sick child. Reaching Jefferson County, the cow gave out, and they had
to rest a day or two for her to recuperate. They resumed their
journey; but she soon gave out again, and they
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were compelled to leave her to shift for herself on the hills and
plains of Nebraska. Soon after, this cow was found by a band of
thirty Pawnee Indians. Thinking she was an estray, they killed her,
and while removing her hide, a rough white man came along with a
mule-train. He was a freighter, reckless and daring. Some of these
old freighters were as tough as some of the "cowboys" on the plains
are at the resent time. Seeing what had been done, he made a demand
of the Indians who had killed the cow. They refused to comply with
the demand, but instead offered thirty dollars, all the money they
had, and really more than the animal was worth. Then they offered
their best pony, which was refused, and the man went on his way
swearing vengeance upon them, and declaring he would have the
Indians' scalps. He secured a party of men, went in pursuit of the
Indians, and, when he overtook them, again pressed his demand. A
parley ensued, then a bloody fight, in which one Indian and one white
man was killed. News was sent to Fort Kearney that the Pawnees had
made an attack upon the whites. The troops were ordered out, and
before the matter was settled, the Government had expended one
hundred and forty thousand dollars. In too many instances the white
man has been the aggressor.
In 1861 the country between Beatrice
and Ne-
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braska City was very sparsely settled. For many miles east of Bear Creek there was not a single house. Over this dreary and desolate region I traveled to and fro four times a year for four years. It was a dismal ride, and I always greatly dreaded it. The scream of the prairie-snipe and the bark of the coyote often startled me as I sat in my buggy half asleep, while my bronco pony jogged wearily along the dim and but little traveled road; and ever and anon a herd of beautiful antelope would be seen grazing upon the hillside or skipping over the prairies. But this scene has greatly changed. The scream of the snipe and the bark of the coyote have long since died away, and the antelope is no longer seen playing upon the hillsides and along the valleys of this beautiful country. Instead of these is heard the bleating of sheep, the lowing of cattle, and the neighing of the horses; and rich and finely-cultivated farms cover all this once dreary and desolate region.
