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of Iowa. The first issue was June 24, 1858, and carried the following advertisement for the City of Louisville, Cass county, N. T. The comment on the limestone was well founded as is shown by the Ash Grove Lime and Portland Cement Company, operating at that point today:

     "The City of Louisville, Cass county, Nebraska Territory was laid out into a town about the tenth day of December, 1856, and on the 15th of said month it received its present name. It was laid out on a claim then owned by Gardner Powers, who claimed and received the honor of giving to it the present name, and who retained 50 shares of the 200. Besides a reserve of ten acres for the purpose of building a mill, etc. Mr. Gardner Powers secured an act of the territorial legislature, Session of 1857, incorporating said city by its proper name and style: also making it a point through which the great Territorial Road, leading from Plattsmouth, N. T., by Parallel and Salina to New Fort Kearney, he being one of the commissioners to locate said road.
     He also asked for and received a post office at the city of Louisville, himself receiving the appointment of postmaster. He is now on the ground in person ready and willing at any and all times to do anything honorable to advance the interest and wellfare of said town and surrounding country, and would have say to the young and old, rich and poor, that here is a chance to secure homes for your selves, family and friends, as you will rarely, if ever, meet with--mark that.
     Better soil, land and limestone rock cannot be found. Range for the stock as well as timber and health cannot be surpassed anywhere. There is no place on earth where produce of every kind as well as stock of all kinds is easily raised than we have here; and the laborers can get what he sees fit to ask for his time--from $1.50 to $2.00 per day--that's so.
     Here are plenty of chances to take up good claims and some that can now be had at a low price. The town company is willing to give a few more lots to persons who were willing to erect a dwelling thereon immediately and they have also donated lots for a school house and a church.
     There will soon be a good mill in operation in said town, where lumber can be had as well as bread stuffs and we will here say that blacksmiths, carpenters, masons and all other kinds of mechanics and laborers could do no better than to settle here.
     A tavern, boarding house, grocery and store all would do a sure business here and last, though not least, judging from the number of males, and the scarcity of females, they too, would go off like hot cakes--'but alas they are not here to go off. The balance soon. Gardner Powers. -
     The mineral resources of Cass county was under consideration by all in eastern Nebraska from the fact that the flint pits near Nehawka were considered old mines of the earliest race living in this region. The Pacific City Herald quotes the following from the Nebraska City News, November 11, 1858:

     "The oldest inhabitant will remember that a few years since there was a good deal of excitement about traces of ancient mining that were discovered along the Weeping Water and about fourteen miles northwest of Nebraska

City. The excitement died out in a short time, and little or no investigation or exploration was made of the many operations, to gratify the curiosity or develop any tangable result.
     Still the deep dug trenches remained there exciting scarce inquiry or discussion, till one day last week a company of our citizens composed of the following gentlemen. Gen. S. F. Nuckolls, Judge Brown, Hon. J. H. Decker, H. Z. Luddington and T. J. Armstrong armed and equipped with picks and shovels, determined upon a partial examination of the works. They found them presenting the same general appearance as represented--deep trenches twenty to thirty feet in width and full of different kinds of rock broken into fine particles, which would indicate, it would seem without doubt, that a process of blasting had been carried on. Did these ancient miners possess a knowledge of the secret and subtle force of gun-powder? Who knows?
     "The operations would indicate the work of many weeks or months. They were evidently carried on on a pretty extensive scale. For what? The question we cannot answer. It is thot (sic) by many that there are extensive lead mines in the vicinity. Lead in small fragments has, in general instances, been found on the farm of Mr. Kirkpatrick, a short distance from where the mining has been carried on. Others are of the opinion that a richer mineral has been worked and will again be discovered. A thorough exploration can alone determine.
     "The relics and vestiges of ancient mines are additional testimony showing that a race, civilized, hardy and industrious once--and previous to the Indian--roamed over these prairies and along the Blue valleys, bathed in the limpid waters, and refreshed themselves upon the products of the chase and soil. What high purpose and great plans were theirs? What deeds of achievement and ambition belonged to them? No record is left--story, song and tongue are silent; and imagination is left to fill up the events of their history with heroic deeds and manly achievements, or tales of woe and that which causeth the heart to mourn, just as it may please to picture it. What this race achieved and what ft thought and what dire curse as in one fated night swept it from earth is, and probably always will remain a mystery. Their records died with them--even the nations epitaph is unwritten."
     The Wyoming Telescope makes the observations that the mines on the Weeping Water were "evidence that the operations were carried on by a civilized nation and not by the savages that now prowl over the prairies, and rove from place to place.'
     The large size of the oaks found growing from these pits showed conclusively that they had been abandoned for many years." The editor also mentioned the fact that the ruins of lodges were found near by.
     The archeologists have not made much progress beyond the observations of this pioneer editor.
     Along the bluffs of the Weeping Water and the Missouri river are found many burial mounds which mean but little to the present generations. Such mounds are numerous on the bluffs near Glenwood. The Pacific Herald of August 11, 1859, publishes a very pathetic picture where some of these mounds have been desecrated:

     "On the summit of the bluffs just east of town were the graves of some Indian chiefs. Some thoughtless, reckless individuals took occasion to dig up the remains (out of curiosity, we presume.) Had they taken the pains to fill up the graves, leaving them in appearance, as they were before, it might have saved some bitter wailing.
     One day last week we observed two Indians at these graves, manifesting their grief in a boisterous manner. They had probably walked hundreds of miles to visit the graves of their ancestors; and when they reached the spot, they found the bodies gone--the spot from which they were taken bearing external evidence of desecration,
     It is not wondered that they should return some night with reinforcements and commit depredations upon the property, and perhaps the lives of some of our citizens. We trust, however, that such a calamity will not occur. Let those who opened those graves go and fill them up again. It is the work of but a few minutes, and should have been done long ago.-

	HISTORY OF ELMWOOD METHODIST CHURCH By REV. H. A. FINTEL

     On May 1, 1871, Bishop Andrews appointed Rev. S. A. Bear pastor of Stove Creek, with three other school houses added, viz--the Flowers, McKeegs and Thompson's school houses, or rather the Elmwood school house.
     According to presiding elder, H. T. Davis, those school houses was the western part of the Weeping Water circuit. When Bishop Andrews made Weeping Water a station, it left the Stove Creek circuit to itself in the west.
     During the conference session October 1, 1874, at Omaha, Stove Creek and South Bend works were united in to one circuit and Rev. S. A. Bear was appointed pastor. This circuit was bounded on the north by the Platte river, on the east by Weeping Water, on the south by Palmyra and on the west by Belmont, embracing a territory of 150 square miles. Rev. Bear had four appointments, nearly all of the year, viz--Stove Creek, Elmwood, Thompsons and Fairland school houses. Father Swartz of Nebraska City assisted in a revival at Fairland where a class of 25 members were organized into a church.
     In 1874 the Stove Creek class and in 1879 the Clear Creek class was organized and Rev. W. K. Loufborrow was pastor, The Chauncy Bailey family had a nice malodeon (sic) organ which was small enough to be taken to the church services or entertainments and the daughter Minnie, nine years of age, played it. Minnie is now Mrs. B. I. Clements.
     During the pastorate of Rev. Loufburrow, a parsonage was built in Elmwood.
     Mrs. Matilda Turner was 94 years

old January 17, 1938, and she remembers when a Methodist Church, South, was started in the Center school house, located in the center of the section. It was two miles south, one and one-half miles west and one-half mile south of where Elmwood now stands. All denominations became members of it. Charles Ferguson and Mrs. John (Matilda) Turner, were charter members of this class. The Rev. Reedy was the pastor.
     In the fall of 1880, Rev. W. J. Barger was appointed to preach at the Elmwood circuit. Then Rev. J. S. Walker served two years and Rev. George Shumann, two years.
     In 1885, Rev. A. Madole was appointed and in the fall of 1886, Chauncy Bailey and Philander Williams were influential in starting a church building project. Other members of the class were the George W. Hylton family, Dr. Kenistan and family, John Clements and family, Mrs. Eliza Stacey and family, Dr. N. R. Hobbs family, John Turner family, Oliver May family, Gilbert Beardsley family, John Current family and John Hogan family.
     B. I. Clements hauled the first load of rock for the new church. To help finance the building, a loan was received from the Board of Church Extension of $500. Mrs. Angle Prosser states "we not only got the loan, but we bought a bell from the Cincinati (sic) foundry costing $105. The money was

raised by serving election dinner and supper in November 1886. The bell was hung before the church was completed.''
     Hettie Rosencrans states "This was the first church bell in Elmwood. It created quite a stir when it was first rung. The church was completed in the spring of 1887.
      Mrs. Lizzie Roberts, daughter or Mr. and Mrs. John Current, remembers the first service held in the new church. "There was no furniture. A box served as a pulpit and rough planks on nail kegs served as seats," she says.
     B. I. Clements states that he took up subscriptions and purchased an organ from J. H. Prescott, of Lincoln.
     Lucretia Ferguson was our first organist. Later Luella Bailey was organist and Gilbert Beardsley was the choir leader for many years. John Stark, Belle Stopher, W. E. Rosencrans and Charley Baker helped to keep things going in the choir. The organ served the needs of the church for many years when it was traded in on a finer one.
     For Communion Service, Mrs. Hettie Bailey brought her red glasses, pitcher and silver cups until in 1900 a silver service was procured.
     During the following years pastors B. J. Bird, 1887; C. H. Gilmore, 1888; W. H. Prescott, 1892; F. A. Campbell. 1893; J. L. Brown, part year; W. H. Torrell, 1896; A. M. Perry, 1899; J. M. Darby, 1902; J. K. Maxfield, 1901; J. C. Stannard, 1904; B. C. Wright, 1906: J. B. Lake, 1906 (finished the year) and appointed until 1908; J. W Davis, 1910 and Peter VanFleet, 1912.
     Dr. Peter VanFleet was blest with considerable finances and together with his wife proposed to give a large sum toward the building of a new church. The members considered the proposition and likewise raised considerable money for a new church. Plans were made and the new project was begun and completed at a cost of $30,000. Because of the pastors liberal giving the church wes (sic) dedicated after his name and in memory of his wife as well. Dr. J. W. Embree, district superintendent, of Tecumseh district was present to dedicate the church in 1914. This was a time of great rejoicing and the church has enjoyed worshiping (sic) in this fine building since.
     After four years of his ministry, Dr. VanFleet was succeeded by L. Morrison, 1916; S. W. Longacre, 1918; F. E. Sala, 1920 and George M. Carter, 1923. During Rev. Carter's pastorate the parsonage was rebuilt into a modern home. It is valued at $5,000.
     Rev. Victor West was next appointed in September 1925. Then Rev. J. A. Klein. During his three years pastorate the pipe organ was dedicated. Dr. Peter VanFleet gave the organ and the members of the church raised $1,000 to install it. Dedication services were conducted by district superintendent F. F. Travis, April 6, 1930.
     Rev. P. W. Shepherd, 1921; W. B. Bliss, 1933 and H. A. Fintel, 1936, were appointed. The present membership is (1928), 287 members. 200 are enrolled in the Sunday School. Mrs. H. P. Capwell, superintendent. 30 are in Epworth League, with Morris Penterman, president. 75 in Ladles Aid, Mrs. H. Penterman, president. 20 in the Women's Missionary Society, Mrs. Ray Parsel, president.
     There is no indebtedness on any of the church property and ample insurance is carried.

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Page 46

CASS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MAGAZINE

	HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS OF PLATTSMOUTH Their Progress From 1856 up to the Present Time By MISS OLIVE GASS A Former Plattsmouth Teacher.

     Development is often a slow process scarcely discernable (sic) except by comparison of the subject in its embryonic state with the present order of things; and while such a comparison brings more vividly to our minds the advancement made, yet to the student of this subject, the steps by which this improvement was accomplished are well worth considering.
     We find some very interesting facts connected with the early history of the schools and school buildings of our city. We find the frame school house, the crude desks, the backless benches and the lack of many things which we onw (sic) cinsider (sic) necessities. The early school houses must have corresponded to the description given by Whittier when he said:

     The first public school in America was the Boston Public Latin School, founded in April 1635. In April 1935 Massachusetts celebrated the 300th anniversary of this event.
     A bronze table at the old school bears this inscription:
     "From the seed planted hero the whole American system of free education grew."
     Probably the first school in Nebraska, was the Mission school at Bellevue, established in 1848.
     Cass county organized the first rural school in 1857.
      The first school house in Plattsmouth was built in 1856 on Gospel Hill, at 11th and Marble streets, now designated as 11th and 3rd Ave. It was a one-room frame building erected by Mr. James O'Neill, grandfather of Mr. James Herold and Mrs. Dora Herold-Tidd, and Mrs. Ann O'Neill Timm. The building was also used as a court room. Tradition tells us that as it was only a one-room building, the jury, in warm weather, often sat out under the oak trees to deliberate on their verdicts.
     The first regular certificate was issued to Miss Sarah Mitchell, March 26, 1860. The board of examiners consisted of Mr. Elbert, Mr. T. M. Marquette and Mr. D. H. Wheeler.
     The earliest schools were all subscription schools, but in the year 1875, Mr. and Mrs. Gorrell had charge of what was called the city school, situated on the south side of Main Street. The school was afterwards removed to the north side of Main Street, the building occupied being about where the Gamble Store, 506 Main, now stands. This was also a public school and was taught by a Mr. White.

     In 1859 the school was removed again to the south side of Main street. The building occupied was not built for school purposes and is the building at 514 Main street, now occupied by Frank Gobelman. The total enrollment at this time was 90 pupils. A Mr. Madison taught school in the building referred to above, and was assisted by Mrs. S. E. McElwain (nee Miss Sarah Harper) of this city. At this time all pupils had to buy their own books.
     Members of the board or education were not compelled to hold midnight sessions in those days in order to complete the business of the evening, as the minutes given below will show. These minutes were taken verbatim from the original records:
      "School board of Plattsmouth met on Thursday, Dec. 3rd, 1863. Present J. H. Brown, director; S. S. Billings, director; T. K. Hanna, director; B. F. Ruffner, clerk.
     The account of J. Moore for $2.00 of a balance be allowed and an order be drawn by clerk in his favor for that amount.
     Ordered that Sarah E. Harper be employed as assistant teacher of common schools for three months at $15.00 per month.
     On motion adjourned. S. S. Billings, Chairman. J. H. Brown, Secretary."
     We find that in 1861 the enrollment had increased to 214 pupils. Four teachers were employed. The principal received $37.50 per month, and the other teachers $20.50 each, per month.
     In 1862 a building which had been used as a wholesale and retail outfitting house was converted into a school house. This building stood where Bekins block now stands, at 6th and Main. During this time and up to the year 1872, the schools were in an ungraded condition, but in 1872, grades were established and this fact was an epoch in the history of our schools.
     The principal at this time received $60.00 per month.
     In the very early days the school board could not buy equipment that was not absolutely necessary, therefore the schools gave many entertainments, for which they charged an admittance fee, with which they purchased equipment.
     These affairs consisted of ice cream socials, oyster suppers, calico parties, lectures and in winter jolly sleighing parties with jingling bells were given, the goal being some country home where a pay-as-you-enter oyster supper would be served.
     When I was a little girl, I was taught, when reading, to pause after a comma, long enough to count 1; for a semicolon, count 2, for a colon, count 3; and for a period, count 4.
     All of this extraneous counting took the pupil's attention so that he could not get nor give the author's meaning with any emotional expression.
     As some caustic critic has said,
     "They pointed every stop, marked every pause so strong, their words like stake processions stalked along."
     And I remember in our old McGuffy's Readers, all words printed in italics were to be emphasized and all marks of inflection were printed over the words, thus allowing the pupil no inndividuality (sic) of expression, and rendering his reading mechanical. In the readers of today, all of this is eliminated and the pupil is his own interpreter.
     In the early days of the schools in Plattsmouth, the pupils were given

lists of words which they were to spell, define and then use in sentences. The teachers were often astounded at some of the results of such assignments. The indolent pupils were content to use the first definition of the word that met their eyes and often they did not understand the definition any better than they did the word they were to define.
     Here are some results of their labor: Contigious. Definition, to touch entirely on one side. 'Her hat was contiguous." Thatched: Definition, covered with straw. "The boy was thatched."
     The next example was received by tradition. Bank-note. Definition, Bank the edge of a stream. Note, to set down. "Bank-note, to set down by the edge of a stream."
     An interesting sidelight on the subject of definitions and dictionaries may be obtained by an examination of a dictionary printed in 1755 by Samuel Johnson.
     Short words had no charm for him. He used pompous words and while it is true that the English people were grateful to him for compiling the only dictionary they had, never-the-less there was some unfavorable criticism of his style. One critic said that if Samuel Johnson were to write a fable about little fishes, lie would make the little fishes talk like whales.
     I think that even the teachers woud (sic) have been overcome by the definition of net-work given in Samuel Johnson's English dictionary. It is as follows: "Net-work is anything reticulated or decussated at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections."
     But fortunately, today, we not only have simplified spelling but simplified definitions.
     When I begin the study of History. I was staggered to learn that our teacher expected us to commit the list at dates at the end of each historical period, entitled, "Table of chronological recapitulation." Each date had a dry, isolated fact attached to it and they were to be learned in the order presented.
     When I became a teacher of History, methods had improved. Today, the "Table of Chronological Recapitulation is used merely for reference. The study of History is the fascinating study of men, not merely of names and dates, because the pupils are encouraged to read the intimate letters, or the autobiography of the actors in this great drama of history, and thus learn, if from their own lips, of their activities in discovery and conquest and the establishment of a higher civilization.
     In 1873 a four-story building was built which is now known as the Central Building. The fourth story was occupied by students of the high school. But no graduating exercises were held, nor diplomas given until about 1890.
     Another school house, which was a frame building, was built near the southwest corner of the school grounds about 1883.
     In 1900 a brick building was erected on the west side of the campus, for the use of high school students only.
     In 1919 the commodious brick building on the east side of the campus was erected.
     They say that "comparisons are odious," but in this case it is not true because we find 1856, ungraded schools and no course of study, while today, our curriculum is broad and is much improved over what it was when first established.

     For instance, today the social studies are featured and not so much stress is placed on the classics. Music has been introduced into all grades, and foot ball, basket ball, track, manual training and home economics have a place in the schools.
     The enrollment has grown from 90 pupils in 1859, to 1000 pupils today, in 1938. Each pupil costs the city about $40 a year.
     In 1919 the convenient, comfortable and beautiful building, valued at $120,000.00 was dedicated for the use of high school and junior high school students.
     We are fully accredited at our state university.
     In spite of a handicap in restricted revenues that causes an unsettled condition on our teaching force today, never-the-less, we feel we are building bettor every year and it is our desire to inculcate upon the minds and hearts of our students the beautiful sentiment expressed by Oliver Wendell Holmes when he wrote:

"Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll, Leave thy low-vaulted past,
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
'Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting seal"

	EARLY SCHOOLS OF CASS COUNTY By George Parley

     My father was born in Rock Bluff in 1857. He taught school there nine years. Will Gilmore took me down to Rock Bluff and showed me where my father had lived. It was a two-room house. He taught in one room of the house and lived in the other.
     In those early years, 1850-59, there were new territories and the schools were more or less private schools, unorganized. My first teacher, Miss Fleming, taught in a private home.
     Parents of the children planned to furnish seats for each child and my father had to furnish two. The name of the first school I attended was the John Hutchison School. There were no county superintendents in that time.
     Following are the county superintendents of public instruction of Cass county, Nebraska, from 1857 to 1939, inclusive:

Today we have well educated and prepared professional teachers. When I was elected, the examination papers of the students were sent to Lincoln, Nebr., to be graded there. This was a very fine rule, and it took a great responsibility from the county superintendent, and they were always carefully graded. It was astonishing the difference in the list of questions the different superintendents or teachers make out. Three-fourths of the county reviewed the questions, others seemed reasonably practical. Bookkeeping and drawing were not taught in many public schools of the county. Most of the county superintendents were ministers or lawyers, appointed or elected. The salary might be interesting. We used to teach three months in the winter and receive $100 for this period of time.
     There wasn't much going on in those days. They used to have spelling bees quite often, and in some of the larger schools the boys came in for the winter season and formed a debating society.
      In those days every student had to furnish their own books and papers. It was forty years ago that they passed a law that the school districts should furnish books to the pupils. Very few families in these days could afford it though, especially if they had three to five children going to school at once.

	PIONEER DAYS IN TIPTON PRECINCT By C. E. Bobbitt.

     Tipton precinct was named after Thomas Weston Tipton from Brownville, Nebraska, one of the first U. S. Senators from the state. Most of what   

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