LOCATION--FIRST SETTLERS--FIRST GRAVE IN THE COUNTY--METHODIST CLASS ORGANIZED--DAVID BAKER--BUFFALOES INVADE THE COUNTY--FRIENDSHIP OF THE EARLY SETTLERS--W. B. MORGAN--FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING--OTHER CHURCHES--APPOINTED TO YORK STATION, 1883--GREAT REVIVAL--THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE DARK CLOUD--SECOND YEAR--ANOTHER GREAT REVIVAL--THE NEW CHURCH--SUBSCRIPTION--THIRD YEAR--CHURCH COMPLETED--DEDICATION BY BISHOP WARREN.
ORK
is the county-seat of York County. It is a lovely city, situated in
the beautiful valley of Beaver Creek, and is the geographical center
of the county. When first located it was called "York Center."
The first settlements made in York
County were in 1861, shortly after the location of the territorial
road from Nebraska City west, to a point on the "California Trail,"
forty miles due east of the present city of Kearney. It was known by
the early freighters as "The Nebraska City Cut-off." Ranches were
established along this road at different points. These ranches were
the hotels along this public highway, kept for the
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benefit of travelers and freighters over the plains. Five of these
ranches were established in York County shortly after this road as
located. The first one established was by Benjamin F. Lushbaugh,
United States Indian Agent of the Pawnees. It was near the west line
of the county, situated on Porcupine Bluffs, and was known as
"Porcupine Ranch." Afterwards the "Jack Smith Ranch," the "McDonald
Ranch," the "Antelope Ranch," and the "Jack Stone Ranch" were
established at different points in the county. At these "pioneer
hotels" the weary traveler over the plains found rest and
refreshment.
The grave of the first white man in the
county may be seen near where the old "Jack Smith Ranch" stood. The
victim was an overland stage-driver. When he reached the ranch he was
under the influence of bad whisky; was shamefully abusive, and
threatened the life of the ranch-keeper. For this purpose, he went to
the stage, secured his revolvers, returned to the ranch, and drew a
bead on Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith saw his danger, and shot first, the ball
entering the driver's forehead, killing him instantly. Mr. Smith was
exonerated in the course he pursued, as he acted entirely in
self-defense. Although a drunkard fills the first grave in York
County, to the praise and honor of the people be it said, York County
has been freer from intoxicants,
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and less evil has resulted from the use of the vile stuff, than in
almost any other county in the State. Her temperance principles have
long been known, far and wide, and the result has been, the very best
class of citizens have been attracted to the county.
The first permanent settler in York
Precinct was Mr. David Baker. In August, 1869, he, with his family,
pitched their tent on the banks of Beaver Creek, under the spreading
branches of a beautiful old elm-tree, not far from where the city of
York now stands. In this tent the family made their home for three
months, during which time Mr. Baker erected the first frame house in
the precinct, hauling the lumber from Nebraska City, a distance of
over one hundred miles.
The city of York was founded in 1869 by
the "South Platte Land Company." The site was taken as a pre-emption
claim by A. M. Ghost and Mr. Sherwood for the company. In the spring
of 1870 the town was represented by one sod-house and the little
frame building which had been occupied by Messrs. Ghost and Sherwood
when the site was. pre-empted.
The first Methodist class was organized
at the house of David Baker in the spring of 1871, and was composed
of the following persons: David Baker, Elvira Baker, J. H. Bell,
Thomas Bas-
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sett, L. D. Brakeman, Ella Brakeman, Sarah M. Moore, Thomas Myres, John Murphy, Mary Murphy, S. W. Pettis, and Mrs. Shackelford. Brother Baker was the leader. At Brother Baker's house the class was regularly held; and here the traveling preacher always found a royal welcome. The home of Brother and Sister Baker was always open to new-corners, and Father and Mother Baker were household names in every settler's cabin in York County for many years. In 1872 the writer had the privilege of sharing their hospitality, and, after remaining over night with the kind family, in the morning Brother Baker ferried me over Beaver Creek in a sorghum-pan. The stream was high and could not be forded, and there was no bridge, so the only way, of crossing was in this unique boat. All the early settlers know very well what a sorghum-pan is. Some, however, may read these pages whose information is not so extensive; so for their benefit I will explain the nature of the little vessel in which I sailed the first time across the raging Beaver. At that day almost all the farmers raised a species of sugar-cane called sorghum. Out of this they made molasses, which they used for sweetening purposes. The juice was pressed from the cane-stalks, and then boiled to a syrup in pans from three to ten feet long; the bottom and ends were of sheet-iron, and the sides of plank. They were from one
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to two feet wide, and the sides from twelve to eighteen inches
high. In these sorghum-pans the juice was placed; a fire was kindled
underneath, and the liquid was boiled to its proper thickness.
Brother Baker's pan resembled somewhat an Indian canoe, and in it I
was safely carried over the swift-flowing stream.
On November 30, 1888, Sister Baker, in
the eighty-third year of her age, went up to join her husband, who
had preceded her to the skies some years before. I was requested to
be present and preach her funeral sermon, but was unable to comply
with the request of the kind friends. She was buried from the
Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 2, 1888, Rev. W. K.
Beans officiating. The founders of the Church in York County are
passing away. "They rest from their labors, and their works do follow
them."
In 1868 there were a few settlers in
different parts of the county, and the most of them were very poor,
and some were in destitute circumstances. They had come to secure
homes under the "Homestead Law," and had but very little with which
to begin. In August of this year the county was visited by large
numbers of buffalo. This was the last appearance of these animals in
any considerable number. The coming of these buffaloes at this time
seemed providential; for these destitute pioneers were without meat,
and
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the prospect was that they would have to remain without meat
during the coming winter. When these cattle of the prairies appeared,
the settlers were not slow in availing themselves of the privilege of
laying in an abundant supply for the season. Though coarser-grained
than the beef from the American cattle, the beef from the buffalo is
sweet, palatable, and healthful.
The settlers at that time thought
nothing of going twenty miles to visit a neighbor. A new settler was
hailed with delight, and the neighbors would go ten or fifteen miles
to assist him in erecting his sod-house, and give him a warm and
honest welcome. The stranger at once became acquainted and felt at
home. Such hearty good-will was irresistible, and no sooner did the
new settler see it than he took the contagion, and was as jolly,
free, and friendly as the rest. Solomon's proverb holds good the wide
world over, and has been verified in every age: "A man that hath
friends must show himself friendly." Friendship of the true type was
beautifully manifested among the earlier settlers of the State. Would
that the same social, benevolent, free-and-easy spirit were
manifested now!
York first appeared as an appointment
in 1871 upon the Minutes of the Nebraska Conference. It was in the
Beatrice District, and was left to be supplied. Near the close of the
year
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Rev. W. E. Morgan was employed by the presiding elder, Rev. J. B.
Maxfield, to supply the work until Conference.
At the Conference of 1872, York was
placed in the Lincoln District. I was the presiding elder and W. E.
Morgan pastor. The mission embraced the whole county. Over this vast
territory Brother Morgan traveled, enduring great hardships and
privations, that he might give to the people in the sparse-settled
neighborhoods, scattered over the country, the bread of life, and lay
deep and broad the foundations of the Church. To his untiring, labors
and bold advocacy is due largely the strong temperance sentiment
which has always prevailed in the county. The little society of which
he was the first pastor has grown into one of the strongest and most
desirable stations in the Nebraska Conference.
On the 7th of June, 1872, I left my
home in Lincoln, and sallied forth in my buggy, drawn by a span of
spirited ponies, for my first quarterly meeting at York. Recent heavy
rains had left the roads in very bad plight. The streams were badly
swollen, many of the bridges were washed away, and the mud was deep,
making travel exceedingly slow and difficult. Late in the evening I
reached Beaver Crossing, and was most kindly entertained at the
hospitable cabin of Brother and Sister Jones. Brother Jones and
family after
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wards moved to York, and while stations in that city were, for
three years, among my most faithful parishioners. The next day I
pushed on to York, and held the first Quarterly Conference ever held
in the place. At this Conference plans and specifications for the new
church were adopted, and arrangements made for pushing the work to a
speedy completion. The church was soon finished and dedicated, the
Rev. Minor Raymond, D. D., of Evanston, Illinois, officiating.
At the close of the Quarterly
Conference, in compliance with the kindly invitation of Brother and
Sister Morgan, I rode out to their homestead, and spent a most
pleasant night with them in their new frame-building. The sod-house
had just been superseded by this neat and beautiful frame cottage.
Possessing, in no small degree, one of the usual weaknesses of a
Methodist preacher, I remember well how I enjoyed the excellent fried
chicken Sister Morgan gave us for breakfast Sunday morning. After a
hearty and very enjoyable meal, we hurried away to the nine o'clock
love-feast, where, for an hour, we had a genuine, old-fashioned feast
of love. Then came the preaching, then the collection, then the
sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and then the reception of members
into the Church. Representatives from various parts of the county
were present. The people at that time thought nothing of going
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twenty or thirty miles to attend quarterly meeting. The services
were held in the new frame building belonging to the Burlington and
Missouri River Railroad Company, and used for a land-office. This
building stood on the west side of the square. Here I met Judge D. T.
Moore, Milton Sovereign, and their estimable wives, and they also,
for three years, were among the most faithful of my parishioners
while pastor of the York Station.
The Presbyterian Church was organized
in July, 1871; the Congregational Church in May, 1872. At a later
period, the Baptist and Christian Churches were organized. All now
have elegant church-buildings and large and flourishing societies.
The citizens of York are altogether the best church-going people it
has ever been our privilege to become acquainted with. The
intelligence and piety of the people are far above the average, and
it is one of the most desirable of places in which to live.
The Nebraska Conference Seminary was
founded, in 1879, by the Nebraska Conference, and located at York, a
full account of which may be found in chapter xxiii, of this
book.
We were appointed to the York Station
by Bishop Wiley, September 10, 1883. My predecessor, Brother G. A.
Smith, had left the charge in an excellent condition. I found peace
and
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harmony, and the Church in good working order. There were two
hundred and seventy-one members enrolled on the Church record. We had
no church-building at that time. The first church built had long
since become too small for the congregations, and had been sold, and
our people were worshiping in "Bell's Hall."
Mrs. Davis and I entered upon our
labors, as we always do, with an intense desire for the salvation of
souls. During the first three months I preached every Sunday morning
to the Church what I called in my own mind, although I did not
announce them as such, awakening sermons, showing the members their
great privileges and responsibilities as well. In the evening, I
preached to the unconverted, and more especially to the young, what I
called in my own mind awakening sermons, designed to produce
conviction and show them the great need and importance of salvation.
At the end of three months it seemed to me the Church was ripe for a
revival; in fact, a revival was already in progress. A number had
already been converted, others were under deep conviction, while many
others were thinking seriously of the important matter. On the 6th
day of January I began special revival services, preaching every
night, and holding social meetings every afternoon. During the first
two weeks of the meeting twelve persons were converted. Slowly
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but steadily the meetings increased in interest and power, and almost every night new interest was manifested. The third week twenty-eight were converted. Then I appointed a day of fasting and prayer, and earnestly exhorted all to observe that day. I also appointed a meeting the same day in the hall, at two o'clock P.M., and announced that I would preach on the subject of "Consecration." Dr. Thomson dismissed the college, and requested all to observe the day as a day of fasting and prayer to Almighty God for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon all the people, and urged all to attend the services in the afternoon. At precisely two o'clock I went to the hall, and as I entered I was astonished, and at the same time very greatly delighted, and it seemed that a new inspiration came upon me. I was moved and thrilled through and through at the sight. I found the house packed from the door to the pulpit with devout worshipers. Leading business men of the city had left their stores and offices and various places of business, and had come to worship God; the president of the college and members of the faculty, and many of the students were there, all waiting and anxiously looking for the heavenly anointing. I took for my text Exodus xiii, 2, "Sanctify unto me all the first born;" and I had "liberty." Every Methodist preacher knows well what that means.
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The power of God came upon the preacher and the congregation, and the Holy Ghost carried truth to the hearts of the people. At the close of the sermon I said: "Now, all who wish to consecrate themselves wholly to God--to make an unconditional and eternal surrender of all to the Lord Jesus Christ--come to the altar." In less than one minute the altar was crowded. They were kneeling four tiers deep, filling all the space between the platform and the seats. I saw others pressing their way forward, anxious, but unable to reach the altar. I called upon them to kneel down in the aisles. The aisles were filled. Then I called upon the people to kneel right where they were sitting. Nearly every person present knelt. The whole house was an altar. Such a scene! I shall never forget it. Its precious memory is with me to-day, and will linger with me, methinks, forever. Then we prayed. The bending heavens touched the congregation,
"Heaven came down our souls to
greet,
And glory crowned the mercy-seat."
Many that were there will remember that scene forever. That night thirty were at the altar, and some twenty were clearly converted. It was the crowning day of the meeting--the great day of the feast. God puts his seal of approbation on these days of fasting and prayer. We continued
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the meetings about six weeks, and the result was one hundred and
thirty-two conversions, and the whole Church wonderfully quickened in
faith and power.
Then we turned our attention to
instructing and building up the young converts. The converts were of
all ages, ranging from the man fifty years old in sin down to the
little child. The students in the college shared largely the benefits
of the meeting. The members of the faculty took an active part in the
revival, and aided in the work. Many young men and women were
wonderfully saved, and became mighty factors in bringing others into
the kingdom of Christ. A little girl only thirteen years old was very
clearly converted; her experience was most beautiful and touching. A
few days afterward I met her on the street, and she looked very sad.
Gloom was in every lineament of her face. Looking up to me very
imploringly, she said: "O, Brother Davis, a dark cloud has come over
me, and I feel so bad! Can you tell me what to do to make the cloud
go away?" "O yes," said I; "you go and pray, and ask. Jesus to take
away the cloud, and it will go away." Her countenance changed in an
instant; she looked relieved, and thanking me very kindly, with a
light step bounded away down the street. A day or so afterward I met
her. Her face beamed with
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joy, and, with a glad heart, she said: "Brother Davis, I did just what you told me to do. I went and prayed, and asked Jesus to take away the cloud, and the cloud went away; and I have been so happy ever since!" O the wondrous power of prayer! He who feeds the ravens when they cry, hears the children when they pray.
"Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw-
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above."
Are you tempted? Pray, and the tempter will flee from you; for
"Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees."
Do clouds gather heavy, thick, and
dark about you? Pray, and the clouds will rift, the sunlight of glory
will come streaming down into your soul. Does faith waver? Pray, and
it will grow strong, and on its mighty pinions you will rise above
all doubts and fears. A praying Church is a happy Church, a safe
Church, a conquering Church. Such a Church we had at York.
The Conference year closed with very
gratifying results. I was returned to York Station by Bishop
Mallalieu in 1884. I began the year with another revival of religion
in view. In all my pulpit preparations, pastoral visiting,
preaching,
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and Church work, I had this object constantly in mind, and I
worked continually to this end. »
On the 4th of January I began revival
services. From the very beginning sinners were converted. In fact,
long before the extra meetings began souls were saved. Twelve had
already been converted; one or more had been converted every week for
a number of weeks before the extra meetings began. The tide of
spiritual power rose rapidly from the very commencement. On the 27th
day of January I announced another fast-day. That day I preached on
"Christian Perfection." It was another memorable day. A number came
into the light of "perfect love," and are witnesses to-day to
Christ's wondrous power to "save to the uttermost." The result of
this meeting was one hundred and twenty-six conversions, and the
realization of "full salvation" on the part of many members of the
Church.
At the close of the meeting we began to
talk up the matter of a new church. All seemed to think the time had
come when we ought to build. The first thing we had to do was to
decide on a location; and of all questions this is the most difficult
and delicate question to handle. Some members of the Board wanted the
church built on the lots where the parsonage stood. These lots had
been given by the "South Platte Land Company" for church purposes,
and it was
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thought by some that, in view of this fact, and the eligibility of
the location, the church ought, in justice, to be built here. They
were very strong in their convictions on this matter. Others thought
the church ought to be built on "East Hill," near where the college
building stood, and they were just as strong in their convictions.
The Official Board was nearly equally divided. After discussing the
matter pro and eon in a number of meetings, a compromise was at
length reached, and the Board decided to build on the corner of Sixth
Street and Nebraska Avenue. There were at first a few criticisms of
this action. A faint murmur from a few was heard, but this murmur in
a very little while died away. The action of the Board in locating
the church where it did was eminently vise, and has never since been
called in question. Perfect harmony prevailed, and the church stands
to-day just where it should stand--right in the center of the .city.
The Board decided to build a church not to cost more than twelve
thousand dollars, and not to begin work until ten thousand dollars
were subscribed.
On the 26th day of April I took for my
text Nehemiah ii, 10: "We his servants, will arise and build." At the
close of a short talk from these words, I called for subscriptions
for the new church. I stated the decision of the Board--not
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to begin work till tea thousand dollars were subscribed. I asked the congregation for eight thousand dollars, and said: "If this congregation will subscribe eight thousand dollars, I think I can get the other two thousand dollars pledged in a week or two, and then work will begin on the new church." When I asked for eight thousand dollars from the congregation present, some laughed right out. They thought the request absurd and the most preposterous. I, however, felt confident that the eight thousand could be raised. I had been working the matter up for several days, and had over four thousand dollars in sight. I had felt the pulse of many, and knew there was a very healthy feeling in the community touching the subject. I closed the morning service with over nine thousand dollars subscribed. The matter was presented again in the evening, and the day's work closed with ten thousand three hundred and sixty dollars pledged. It was the best subscription, taking the number and ability of the people into consideration, I had ever known. The people were jubilant. Smiles were on all faces, and tears of joy in many eyes. It was a "red-letter day" for York. The enthusiasm over the new church-building was at white-heat. In a few days afterward men were at work on the building, and when Conference came the church was well under way.
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We were returned to York by Bishop
Andrews for the third year. The collecting of money for the new
church, and looking after matters connected with the building,
occupied a great deal of my time during the first part of the
Conference year. Work on the building was pushed; the basement was
completed, and we took possession and informally dedicated it to the
worship of Almighty God December 6th. I took for my text on the
occasion Psalm lxxxiv, 1: "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of
hosts!" The room was full, the interest deep, and the attention the
most profound. It was easy to preach to such a congregation. I have
often said: "If a preacher can not preach in York, he can not preach
anywhere." The members of the Church bear the preacher right up to
the very throne of God on the mighty wings of prayer and faith. God
wonderfully helped his weak servant in delivering the message of
salvation. The glory of he Lord filled the house, and the first day's
service in the new church was indeed most precious. It was the augury
of the good things to come.
The audience-room was completed and
ready for dedication February 27th, when Bishop H. W. Warren was
present and preached the dedicatory sermon. His text was Isaiah lx,
17: "For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will
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bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron." The sermon
was just such as Bishop Warren could preach. The house was packed to
its utmost capacity with a most appreciative and intelligent
audience. Over thirteen hundred were present at the morning service.
We needed seven thousand dollars to remove all indebtedness. In a
very little while over eight thousand dollars were subscribed, giving
us a margin of one thousand dollars. The subscriptions were taken in
notes bearing seven per cent interest. Dr. C. F. Creighton preached
at night, and a most eventful day for York closed. It was another
"red-letter day."
The official Board had determined to
build a church costing twelve thousand dollars. We now had a church
costing eighteen thousand dollars, and virtually out of debt. God's
seal of approbation seemed to rest upon pastor and people from the
moment the work began until "the head-stone was brought forth with
shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it!"
During our three years' pastorate three
hundred and thirty-five souls were converted, and the membership more
than doubled. We left the charge with over six hundred members. Our
success was due wholly to the fact that God was with pastor and
people. We leaned not upon our own strength nor "unto our own
understand-
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ing." These three years were memorable in our ministry. They will never be forgotten. They will be remembered with pleasure and delight when we reach the plains of glory. We expect to meet and to live forever with the good people of York.
