The Pioneer Record - Vol 3. No. 4

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THE PIONEER RECORD.

(NOTE: Pages 68 through 71 are printed in two column format, with font size reduced.)

THE PIONEER RECORD.

Published Quarterly.

AUGUST, NOVEMBER. FEBRUARY AND MAY.

MRS. C. R. STOWELL. - - - Editor.

STOWEL & KENT, - - - Publishers.

Entered at the Auburn postoffice as second-class mail matter.

Address all communications to THE PIONEER RECORD. Auburn Nebraska.

Subscription, 25 Cents Per Year.

     The Old Settler's association, of Otoe county will hold its annual picnic at Morton's park. Nebraska City, Thursday, June 18.

      Old settlers, do not forget that September 1st, 1896, is Pioneer Day at the state fair and attend in full force. A special program for the day will be prepared.

      We wish subscribers who make use of the return cards which are sent out would be more careful to sign their name to the card. We now have one that was returned from Salem, but as no name was signed are unable to give it proper credit. A RECORD will he promptly forwarded as soon as we learn to whom it should be sent.

      A. D. Jones of Omaha, whose article on the first survey of Omaha appears in this number, is a man whose history has been closely connected with that of the city of which he was one of the founders. He was one of the prime movers in many of the early measures to advance the interests of Omaha. He was the first postmaster, and later, held the first of a number of official positions under the city charter. He is today the only one living of the three who crossed the Big Muddy to take a claim and although 82 years of age and suffering from partial blindness he sends us an article interesting in reminiscence and valuable for its historical facts.

A WOMAN'S OPINION OF THE EARLY TIMES.

     The following communication from Mrs. Polly Wamsley of Falls City, shows the bright side of an old settlers life.
      Dear Editor: --There has been so much said about hard times in settling Nebraska that I would like to say a few words to show that life in those days had its bright side. It seems to me the years from '57 to '62 were the happiest ones of my life. All were neighbors then and were able and willing to work, the earth yielded plenty and family ties were unbroken. Then the war came on and broke up many families, our children grew up, married and left the parents roof for homes of their own. Now we old settlers are scattered over the world, are growing old and are sometimes a little lonesome. Many of our loved ones are buried in unknown graves, but we who are left can look forward to the rest that conies to the faithful.

P. W.

     The Pioneer celebration at Sutton was held February 23. The early settlers wore badges bearing the words, "Pioneers of 1869-71, February 22. 1896, after 25 years." A lunch was followed by a program at which Mrs. H. E. Evans, the first white woman in the precinct, presided. Hereafter annual pioneer meetings will be held February 22.

     Secretary, J. A. Barrett of Lincoln, is making an effort to organize a Lancaster county historical society, whose object shall be to collect facts concerning the early history of the county and particularly of the city of Lincoln.

     "Old times are best,--what sunbeams play amid the flowers of yesterday"--Clarence Urmy in Munsey's Magazine.

THE PIONEER RECORD.


	HERE AND THERE

     The old settlers association of Lancaster county will hold their annual reunion and picnic June 10.

      The first Presbyterian church of Wahoo was organized in January 1874 by N. C. Robinson, of Nebraska City.--Wahoo Wasp.

      William Huse, editor of the Ponca Journal has written a history of Dixon county that is regarded us it well written and valuable work.

      Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crook who have lived near Falls City since '54 celebrated their golden wedding February 28th. Four generations were represented at the banquet table.

      On February 1st the old settlers of York organized an old settlers association and started out with a membership of 54. Only those who have been residents of the county for 20 years may join the association. Ex-Senator J. P. Miller was elected president; N. A. Dean, vice-president: E. A. Butterfield, secretary: N. Johnson, treasurer and L. D. Stilson, W. E. Dayton and Judge Edward Bates were chosen a committee to collect facts pertaining to the history of the county.

      The editor of the Wooly now enjoys the proud distinction of being the oldest inhabitant of the town of Grant. We do not mean the oldest man in the town; but the man who has lived in the town the greatest number of years. But three others are left who lived here before the town was moved D. J. Fink. C. F. Logan and J. A. Phillips, all of whom came about the same time. The four named are now the highest authority on all matters pertaining to the early history of Grant and Perkins county. --Wooly West.

      The Pioneer society, of Richardson county will hold their annual reunion at Verdon on August 19 and 20. Father Fitzgerald, of Auburn, is to deliver an address on the 19th, and the program for the 20th is to be made up by persons born in Richardson county.

      The County Fair association, of Nemaha county have taken steps towards permanent headquarters for Nemaha county pioneers. The fair association proposes to build a log cabin on the fair grounds, the logs to be furnished by the pioneers and in this cabin are to be kept relics of the early days.

      From a January issue of the Lincoln State Journal we clip the following story of the late Governor Butler: Driving from Pawnee City to Omaha to attend the legislature of 1866 and to be sworn in as governor with two members of the legislature from his county, the governor met a cattle dealer on the prairie, who owed him a trifle of $8,000, and stopped his team to pay him then and there in $1,000 bills. The governor remarked that he had better divide the money among the party so that if one was robbed there would still be enough to get home on, and he handed a bill to each of his fellow travelers and thrust the balance into his vest pocket.

      The morning after his arrival at the old Herndon house at breakfast, the governor suddenly exclaimed, "There, I left that vest with the money in hanging on a chair. Wonder if the chamber maid will find it? But every body was honest those days and the governor lost nothing.

      Wanted-An Idea Who can think, of some simple thing to patent? Protect your ideas; they may bring you wealth Write JOHN WEDDERBURN & CO. Patent Attorneys Washington, D. C., for their $1,800 prize offer and list of two hundred inventions wanted

THE PIONEER RECORD.

THE FIRST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1855.

     It will be a matter of general interest to the people of the state that the next annual meeting of the State Historical Society, occuring (sic) next January will be devoted to reminiscences of the first territorial legislature of Nebraska. It is very desirable not only to have all surviving members present at that meeting but to collect in the mean time all possible data with reference to all the members and the acts of that body. It will be a great help if those who can, will send to the society photos and pictures of the members and any papers, letters, manuscripts or books relating to them. Some members are living in other states and it may possibly take sometime to find them. Information relating to such will be thankfully received. The following is a list of the members and officers as they were then apportioned:
     COUNCIL. J. L. Sharp, Richardson county; B. R. Folsom, Burt: J. C. Mitchell, Washington: M. H. Clark, Dodge; T. G. Goodwill, A. D. Jones, O. D. Richardson, S. E. Rogers, Douglas; Luke Nuckolls, Cass; A. H. Bradford, H. P. Bennett, C. H. Cowles, Pierce; Richard Brown, Forney. Officers, G. L. Miller, chief clerk; O. F. Lake, assistant clerk; S. A. Lewis, Sergeant at arms; N. R. Folsom, doorkeeper.

     HOUSE. A. J. Hanscom, W. N. Byers, William Clancey, F. Davidson, Thomas Dauis, A. D. Goyer, A. J. Poppleton, Robert Whitted, Douglas: J. B. Robertson, H. C. Purple, Burt; A. Archer, A. J. Smith, Washington; E. R. Doyle, J. W. Richardson, Dodger (sic); J. M. Latham, William Kemptun, J. D. H. Thompson, Cass; G. Bennett, J. H. Cowles, J. H. Docker, W. H. Hail, William Maddox, Pierce county; W. A. Finney, J. M. Wood, Forney; D. M. Johnson, J. A. Singleton, Richardson. Officers, J. W. Paddock, chief clerk; G. E. Eayre, assistant clerk; J. L. Gibbs, sergeant at arms; B. B. Thompson, doorkeeper. Communications may be addressed to the Librarian of the State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebr.

JAY AMOS BARRETT.

THE HALF BREED TRACT.
      The boundaries of this land were as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the great Nemaha and extending west along that stream to the mouth of the Muddy, thence west about 10 miles, and from the mouth of the Little Nemaha in Nemaha county west 10 miles and from the two points this made viz: 10 miles. West of the month of the Muddy and Little Nemaha rivers a line was drawn connecting these two points, running northwest and southeast about 10 miles west of the Missouri river. The people for whom provision was thus made were a mixture of French and Indian blood and their names were given to several little towns along the Missouri river within this tract.

       This land was purchased from the United States in 1861 by the following thirteen persons:

       A. Barada, Goulet, Mike Manett, Douville, Frank Carrion, John Deroin, Joe Deroin, Barnaba, Sondeaur, Steve Story, Charles Rulo, Piquot Jule and Robideaux.

       Through the kindness of S. B. Robst of Humboldt, we have been enabled to give our readers several facts concerning the early history of Pawnee county that were gleaned from Edwards centennial history of that county.

       The first sermon preached in Pawnee county was by Rev. David Hart, of the Methodist Episcopal church, at the reoidence (sic) of Henry Shellhorn.

THE PIONEER RECORD.


	NECROLOGY

     MRS. MATILDA D. NORWOOD died at Nelson, Nuckolls county, February 22, aged 80 years. She was born in North Carolina in 1815 and was married in that state in 1834 to Nathaniel Norwood. The couple soon moved to Indiana, where they lived till '53, then moved to Iowa and in 1878 located in Nuckolls county, Neb. Her decendents (sic) number 110. Eleven children, 35 grandchildren and 34 great grand children. Her husband with whom she had lived for 62 years is still living.

       GEORGE GREER died at his home at Benedict, York county, February 15, 1896 at the advanced age of 97 years 9 months and 16 days. He was born near Baltimore, Md. He afterward lived in West Virginia, then in Ohio and from there moved to York county this state in 1874. He was one year and eight months old when Washington died and could go over the history of the presidents from the time of James Monroe's administration. He was a republican in polities and in religious faith a Presbyterian.

       COL.. A. J. CROPSEY, who recently died at Ogden, Utah, was one of the first residents of the city of Lincoln. He lived for some time in a frame house on the site now occupied by Hyatt's livery stable. He afterward built an expensive mansion south of the capitol square. He was one of the prime movers in the impeachment proceedings against Governor Butler. In 1870 he was elected to the senate. The panic of '73 so crippled him financially that he was led to move to Texas, where he lived for several years when he again returned to Lincoln. He became greatly interested in building the Wesleyan University and in the sales of land at University Place. Again suffering financial reverses he moved to Utah, where he died. He leaves a widow and one son, Daniel Cropsey of Fairbury, Neb.

       MRS. SARAH GILLESPIE died at her home in Lincoln, May 5th aged 62 years. She was born in Worcester, Mass., and was married to John Gillespie in 1860. They lived for some time in Nemaha county Nebr. When the war broke out Mr. Gillespie enlisted in the First Nebraska regiment and his wife accompanied him to the field. He was one of the commissioners to lay out the city of Lincoln for a state capital, consequently the family was one of the first to locate in that place. Mrs. Gillespie has for a number of years been an active and appreciated member of the Woman's Relief Corps.

       Died.--At his home in London precinct on Friday May 8, 1866, of diabetes, George S. McGrew, aged 58 years 2 months and 3 days. George Sisson McGrew was born in Westmoorland county Pa., March 5, 1838. He worked on his fathers farm farm (sic) and at carpentry in his early manhood and was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church a West Newton. With an elder brother he was among the first respond to the call for troops enlisting in the 105th Pennsylvania volunteers. George was captured before Richmond and taken to Libby prison and after a few months was transferred to Andersonville. In 1870 he came to Nemaha county, where he has since resided. He taught school for several terms, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising. On March 21, 1872, he was married to Martha Peery. There were six children, five of whom are living--and were with him in his last hours. In 1876 he united with the Methodist Protestant church at London, was stewart, trustee and secretary of the conference.

THE PIONEER RECORD.


	Publisher's Announcements.

S announced elsewhere, beginning with this number THE PIONEER RECORD will hereafter be used by the State Historical Society to publish its proceedings and many of the papers that come into its possession that they are unable to publish in the bound volumes. By the use of the RECORD the society hopes to awaken more interest in historical matters through the state. By the use of the matter furnished by the Historical society the publishers hope to make THE PIONEER RECORD of interest to all parts of the state alike. Heretofore it has of necessity been more or less local in its contents.
       NOTICE:--Each member of the Territorial Pioneer Association who is fully registered by or before August 15, 1896 (not later); will be sent a ticket of admission to the Nebraska State Fair, and its amphitheater and quarter stretch on Tuesday, September 1, 1896. At 1 o'clock that day there will he a reunion of the pioneers on the State Fair grounds.
       We wish to call especial attention to the communication of Librarian Barrett, that appears in another column. Hereafter all persons interested in either the State Historical Society or the Territorial Pioneer Association may be sure of getting well authorized news concerning their organizations in the RECORD.
       VOLUME THREE:--With this number Vol. 3 of THE PIONEER RECORD closes. It was started to advertise a local pioneer picnic and stir up an interest in pioneer matters in Richardson county. It has succeeded so well that Richardson county now has three old settlers and pioneer societies and these kind of associations are becoming popular all over the slate (sic). It has constantly grown in favor with the pioneers since the first number was printed and we close Vol. 3 with the endorsement of the Territorial Pioneers and the State Historical Society.
       SUBSCRIBE NOW:--With the August number THE PIONEER RECORD begins Vol. 4 and with the improvements in contemplation it has been thought best to raise the subscription price to 50 cents per year, but as an inducement to every one who reads this notice to become subscribers, subscriptions will be received till August 1, 1896, for 25 cents in silver or two cent postage stamps, but after August 1st the price will be raised to 50 cents a year.
STOWELL & KENT, Publishers.