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CASS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MAGAZINE

Page 81

	DOOR FROM FIRST NEBRASKA CAPITOL NOW IN POSSESSION OF NEHAWKA MEN In Good State of Preservation and If it Could Talk What a Story it Could Tell. By ROY L. KLAURENS

     Many important things happened behind this door, which was on the front entrance of Nebraska's first territorial capitol at Omaha. After a period of obscurity, when its value was not realized, it now is in possession of Roy L. Klaurens, superintendent of schools at North Bend, who is spending the summer at Nehawka, and Wm. A. Ost of Nehawka. Standing beside the door is J. N. Emanuel. North Bend, insurance man, from whom the relic was purchased. The picture was taken by Mr. Klaurens.
     Behind the doors of one of the most beautiful and inspiring buildings of the Middle West, the state capitol at Lincoln. historic legislation was enacted daily last winter to make Nebraska the "White Spot" of the Nation.
     But back of the door of another historic building, the first territorial capitol of Nebraska, occurred equally historic legislation that formed this great state from the Kansas-Nebraska territory and brought law and order to it in its infancy.
     A group of men from Council Bluffs built a two-story brick building in a town called Omaha, about eight miles above Bellevue, and offered it for the location of the capitol of the newly formed Nebraska territory. Acting Governor Cumming called the first legislature to order in this building on January 16, 1855.

     A door from this first capitol building has just come into the possession of the writer, superintendent of schools of North Bend, and William A. Ost, of Nehawka. Because of the interesting story that can be told about this door concerning the legislation enacted behind it, coupled with the fact that it is about the last available memento of this building, these two Nebraskans treasure their newly acquired possession above a price.
     Henry Livesey of Omaha purchased a farm from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1870 near the town of North Bend and paid for it with railroad bonds. His next step was to erect a residence on this farm and the material he used was the second-hand lumber he had purchased from those persons who were wrecking the first capitol building and selling it piece-meal. He transferred the material he had thus purchased to his newly acquired farm. This door was a part of that material and was used this time on a home. The door was heavy and out of proportion to those commonly used in the homes of that day.
     After the residence was built it was first lived in by a Mr. Diffey, who rented the farm. The farm is located in Pleasant Valley township, 10 miles

north of North Bend, Dodge county. It is the Northwest quarter of secion (sic) 35, township 19, range 5 east. The building was used as a farm home for 42 years until 1912, when the owner at that time, J. N. Emanuel, saved one of the doors, to which is attached one of the original hinges, and brought it with him to North Bend in 1938 when he moved to town to engage in the insurance business. The writer purchased the door from him May 4, 1939, and so this door, though battered and worn by years of service will be a symbol of a bitter feud that developed in the location of the State Capitol.
     By putting your ear close to a panel of the door you can hear the faint sound of voices which Mr. Emanuel claims are the voiecs (sic) of those early statesmen who, embattled behind the door, argued the problems of the day, especially the location where the capitol should be. The smell of the political jobs perpetuated behind this door have never been entirely extinguished through all the years since January 16, 1865.

     When the first legislature met in 1855, it was composed of a Council of 13 members and house of 20 members. When a census showed that about twice as many people lived south of the Platte river as north of it, the battle was on to move the capitol south of the Platte. Such an act was not passed this session, but two acts of importance were one provided for roads and ferries and the other a prohibition act that forbid the sale or gift of liquor within the boundaries of the territory.
      Mark Izzard (sic), the neat territorial governor, called the second. legislature to order behind this door in 1656. This session paved the way for the "wild cat days" of Nebraska and set the stage for the "Panic of 1857" by passing the act providing for the formation of a bank by five men and the issue of paper money. Business boomed for a while, naturally.
     The third legislature met in January 1857, and another big push was on to move the capitol south of the Platte. By a vote of nine to four in the Council and 23 to 12 in the House the act was passed to move it to Douglas, a "paper town" in Lancaster county, near Salt Creek. No one knew just where Douglas was and since the governor vetoed the act no one knows just where the capitol would have been located.

     The fourth session behind this now grisly old door met on December 8, 1857, and is better known as the "Florence Session." After a fist fight on the floor, the South Platte faction held a session the next day in a house in Florence, a town about six miles north of Omaha, and passed laws while the North Platte faction held forth in the original capitol. The Florence legislature voted to move the building to Neapolis, another "paper town" about where Cedar Bluff, Saunders county, is located today. Nothing actually was done to place it there, but by 1859 the feud between the North and South Platte regions became so bitter that the South Platte people resolved to secede and join Kansas. Delegates were sent to Kansas and to Washington but the effort failed and the quarrel continued.
     The fifth session met September 21, 1858 and its most noted piece of legislation was the repeal of the Prohibition Act of 1855. The fifth session

passed an anti-slavery act over the governor's veto. Sessions were continued in the first capitol behind this door until the construction of the second capitol building was completed. The second building still stands as a part of Omaha Central High School.
     So this is a "Story Behind a Door" wrecked, but steeped in the traditions--a door battered, worn, and almost of the infant statehood of Nebraska, --a symbol of the fight to bring law and order, peace and prosperity to the 'White Spot" of America

	HISTORY OF MURRAY UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH By MARGARET SPANGLER TODD

     "According to appointment of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church made at Philadelphia. in May, 1860, I came a missionary to Nebraska Territory in July and commenced preaching half time in Rock Bluff, Cass county." Thus Rev. Thomas McCartney entered the first minutes in the Session Records of the Rock Bluffs United Presbyterian Church.
     The next item entered was dated August 18, 1860, reading: "By arrangement with those who requested preaching, August 18th was designated as the time for organizing a church. And on the day appointed, after sermon

from Matthew 11:29, the following persons were admitted in full communion by assenting to the principles of the church, to-wit: Rob't. M. Latta, Letitia Latta, William S. Thompson, Hanna E. Thompson, William H. Royal, Elizabeth Royal, David Storey, Jane Latta and Mary Latta. Also Robert M. Latta and W. L. Thompson were, by ballot, chosen ruling elders and the organization named "The United Presbyterian Congregation of Rock Bluffs."
     The following act of Legislature was approved January 4, 1861: "To Incorporate the United Presbyterian Church at Rock Bluffs City:
     Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the council and house of representatives of the Territory of Nebraska, that John Latta, William H. Royal, David Storey, Robert M. Latta and William L. Thompson and their associates and successors, the members of the United Presbyterian Church of Rock Bluffs City, Cass county, be, and the same are hereby created a body politic and corporate, under the name style and title to remain in perpetual succession with full power to plead and be impleaded, to sue and be sued, to receive, acquire, hold and possess property, real, personal and mixed, to use, employ, manage and dispose of all such property as they deem proper for use and well being of said church and in consistant (sic) with the provisions of said act, to elect such trustees and other officers and make such rules and bylaws as they deem proper; Provided always, that they do any act or make any rule or by-law which shall in my way conflict with the constitution of the United States or doctrine or usages of the United Presbyterian Church of the United States of America."
     At first, divine services were held every alternate Sabbath in the village school house. An acre of timber on the east side of the Missouri river was purchased to furnish the lumber for the church building which was erected. The timber was worked up, brought across the river and the building was soon started. Practically all of the labor was done by the members of the church. February 16, 1802, the new church building was opened for public worship, furnished and entirely free from debt.
     Ordination and installation of the first elders was held Friday afternoon, February 21, 1862. R. M. Latta was clerk of the session. The first communion service held by the United Presbyterian denomination was observed on February 23, 1862. The first children baptised (sic) were Kate Doom, James Thompson Latta, William Allison Royal. John Glen Royal and Evelyn Lucretia Nash, this ordinance being held Monday, February 2, 1862.
     The Sabbath School was organized by Rev. Thos. McCartney, March 9 1862, the superintendent being W. S. Thompson. C. D. Seyboldt was elected secretary and librarian. Teachers were H. M. Latta, Letitia Latta, Hanna E. Thompson and Mathilda Nash with Rev. McCartney and William Gilmour teachers of the Bible class. The library was a gift of J. T. Pressley and twenty-five copies of the "Youths Evangelist" were procured for the Sabbath school by the proceeds of a magic lantern exhibition given by Rev. McCartney.
     The February 28, 1866, issue of the "Nebraska Herald," items the following: "The U. P. Church of Rock Bluffs was the first church building

of the kind to be erected in Cass county. The members have lately erected a cupola and bellfry (sic) in which they now have a bell weighing 400 pounds." The session books record a called meeting to make arrangements for paying off the debt incurred in building the cupola and addition.
     This church building served the people well and the congregation prospered until in the early seventies when many of the members and a_herents o_ offer was glady (sic) accepted with the understanding that when the United Presbyterian congregation was able to support a pastor whole time, the Christian Brethren should release their claim and the United Presbyterians would return the $200.00.
     Mr. A. M. Holmes was appointed to get a sign board painted to read "Fairview United Presbyterian Church" to be placed on the west end of the church and build a fence around the church. An assessment of the members was made to defray expenses.
     At a congregational meeting held January 7, 1878, at the home of A. M. Holmes and on motion by *Mr. the U. s. church held a meeting at the home of Andersen Root for the purpose of reviving and reorganizing the organization.*
     After some discussion it was decided to tear down the Rock Bluff U. P. building and remove it to some central point on the prairie. Mr. James A. Walker of Fairview offered to donate one-half acre adjoining the land he had previously donated to school district No. 56. The congregation was to assure Mr. Walker that they would always keep the lot well fenced.
     The congregation accepted Mr. Walker's liberal offer and began plans for a church building. They decided to tear down the Rock Bluff church building and rebuild on the Walker lot. A building committee composed of Wm. Lloyd, A. B. Root, and S. G. Latta was appointed. Before this building was completed the funds were exhausted and it was necessary to raise some money.
     The Granview (sic) Christian Church, west of Fairview, offered to loan the United Presbyterians $200.00 for the use of the building half time. *The Holmes the name of the congregation was changed to "Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church."* On March 20th of the same year, the congregation changed the name back again to Fairview, as the village was called.
     In the autumn of 1880 the congregation decided that they could raise enough funds to employ a minister whole time and the $200.00 was returned to the Grandivew (sic) Church. Rev. G. R. Murray was installed, serving for ten years.
     January 3, 1990 the trustees were instructed to build a porch at the front of the church, 6x10 feet with a platform at the end "high enough to step into wagons."
     In 1890 the name of the town of Fairview and the name of the church were changed to Murray, in honor of Rev. George R. Murray.
     Sunday morning, November 3, 1895, Rev. S. S. Stewart was taken ill in the pulpit and could not finish his discourse. The congregation united in singing the 23rd Psalm and was dismissed with prayer and benediction by Dr. Forbes. Rev. Stewart's illness proved fatal and He passed away November 11th.
     As time sped on the congregation increased in number and in interest. By 1897 a new church building was

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* Segment between the marks reproduced as it appears in the booklet.

deemed necessary. The old building was sold to Mr. J. E. A. Burton and moved north across the street and later was made into a private dwelling. Work was immediately begun on the new church. The last communion in the old church was held March 6, 1898.
     On September 25, 1897, a large congregation assembled in the old church building to listen to a preparatory sermon and at the close of the service the people were dismissed to meet at the foundation of the new building. After singing the 100th Psalm and prayer by Rev. J. D. Oldham, Dr. Forbes delivered an appropriate address. Then a history of the congregation, a copy of the Holy Scriptures. a copy of Bible songs, a copy of the "Indianapolis Institute" (the church paper) and a list of all of the names of the present membership was placed to an iron box in the corner stone. The corner stone was placed by Dr. Samuel Forbes, D. D., of Richmond, Kansas, and Rev. J. D. Oldham.
     May 29, 1898, dedication day, the building was filled, to overflowing. Rev. J. P. Sharp, pastor of the U. P. Church at Wharton Square, Philadelphia, Pa., preached the dedicatory sermon, the pastor, Rev. J. D. Oldham made the dedicatory prayer. After the service the building committee announced that there was still $100.00 due on the new church and a collection was taken, more than enough money being contributed. The first communion served in the new church was on June 5, 1898.
     Our church records fail to give the exact information regarding our parsonages, but for many years the building on lot No. 1, block 13, was used for this purpose. October 24, 1917, Samuel G. Latta gave the church a quick-claim deed to this property. In 1923 a larger one was needed and this property was traded in as part payment on the W. H. Puls property, lots No. 4, 5, 6 and 7, block No. 17, in Latta's second addition. April 8, 1934, the manse was burned to the ground. It was not used as a parsonage at that time but was rented to the Ray Frederick family. Plans for rebuilding was soon started with O. A. Davis, C. D. Spangler, Dr. G. H. Gilmore, Mrs. W. S. Smith and Mrs. A. G. Long serving as the building committee. Ralph Kennedy was the contractor. Rev. Edwin G. Sloan was the first minister to reside in the new manse.
     Years have passed, bringing many changes to the congregation, few to the new church building. The bell now in use is not the one used in Rock Bluffs. It is 'bout twice as large as the Rock Bluff bell and it was purchased a few years after the new building was erected. The individual communion set now in use was presented by Dr. T. H. Hanna and wife of Omaha, and was first used in March 1913.
     Uncle Sam Latta donated his own organ to the church in 1914 and it is still used occsionally.
     In the autumn of 1914, the lecture room of the church was used by the 9th and 10th grades of the Murray School, until the new school house was completed. The rent money was used to buy fuel for the church. Again in 1933 the church building was used as a school house as the scool (sic) building was burned to the ground.
     Electric lights have been in use for many years. A second piano was given to the church by the Young People's Society a few years ago and Is used in the Sunday School rooms. The Pulpit Bible now in use was given by Rev. Willard Lamp of Omaha.

      The pewter collection plates were a gift from Mrs. O. A. Davis, the wooden plates from a former minister and wife, Rev. and Mrs. Edwin G. Sloan. Other new equipment of various kinds has been added.
     This spring (1940) the church sponsored the organization of a local Boy Scout troop. The council being Ivan DeLesDernier, Everett Spangler, Dr. G. H. Gilmore, Marion Worthan and Perry Nickles. Olin Morris was selected as Scoutmaster with Harold Grier as assistant.
     The Male Quartette, composed of Dale Long, Harold Grier, John Faris and Dale Wohlfarth, is an inspiration to the church and community. The Women's Missionary Society is very active and is a great spiritual and financial help to the church. Mrs. Olin Morris is the president this year. The Young People's Society is the hope and pride of the church. They are sponsoring a new society, the Pioneers, composed of younger boys and girls of the church. The president of the Young People's Society is Marion Wiles and Charles Spangler is the president of the Pioneer group.
     Rev. Neil Stewart is serving the congregation at the present time. Some of the other ministers who have supplied this pulpit are: Thomas McCartney, H. B. Stewart, J. A. Shankland, G. R. Murray, S. S. Stewart, H. N. Cornes, J. D. Oldham, Milford Tidhail, W. M. Howie, J. S. Swagger, W. S. Ritchie, T. H. Hanna, H. B. Hutchman, J. B. Jackson, J. D. Buchanan, James H. Lee, Carl McGoehon, J. C. Stewart, W. F. Graham, W. Greer McCrory, the Lamp Brothers, J. H. White, Edwin G. Sloan, D. P. Smith, John C. Smith, E. B. Graham, S. B. McBride and J. G. McKee.
     August 18, 1940, this United Presbyterian church will have been established 80 years. On that date the congregation plan to hold a home coming celebration, inviting all members and adherents and all former members and friends to help celebrate their 80th anniversary. Services will be hald (sic) in the morning and afternoon with a basket dinner at noon.

	DATA OF CROSS ROADS--NOW MURRAY By G. H. Gilmore

     The barren cross roads four miles west and one south from the steamboat town of Rock Bluff in the spring of 1872, presented a view eastward of rolling timbered hills. In the distance King Hill, the hazy rugged bluffs in Iowa and the only visable (sic) dwelling house from this point was a crude one-room cabin down the hill to the south cast, sheltered in a wooded cove. The occupant of this cabin was a young bachelor, Joseph Burton, a native or Virginia, who over a period of sixty five years saw many transformations at the barren, treeless cross roads: dwellings, school house, churches, store buildings sprang up, a post office was established and many changes in the growth and development in the thriving town of Murray, Nebraska.

     Humphrey Lee Oldham, owner of the 160 acres of land to the northwest of the cross roads was married to Miss Sarah Storey, November 9, 1871 and had under construction a small two room dwelling July 4, 1872 when Joseph Burton and L. G. Todd called to see Mr. Oldham and view the new home. "I'll need a good crop this season to pay for this building," Mr. Oldham told them. The sky was overhung with black, threatening clouds. The visit and inspection was short. A devestating (sic) wind and hail storm came from the northwest, destroying the wheat and corn in many fields.
     That part of Murray south of Main Street is located upon an 80 acres deeded to Walker & Patterson, merchants in Rock Bluff, September 4, 1871, by John H. Walters for a "store bill," which he owed the firm and on March 11, 1872, James M. Patterson deeded his half of this tract of land to James A. Walker. The settlers in this section of the county became aware of the urgent need of a school and a group gathered and organiezd (sic) district No. 56. The district voted that the "cross reads" was the most central location for a school and James A. Walker and Anna S. Walker deeded a half-square acre to district No. 56. March 23. 1872. A school house 16x16 feet was erected during the summer from rough lumber, poorly constructed. It was used but a few years when it was cold to the Storey boys and moved two miles to the southwest, the south side of the A. Hollenburg farm, where it was used as a dwelling. A more commodious school house was built upon the same site which was used until 1895, when it was disposed of to O. D. Connally, who moved it east of the railroad tracks where it was also used as a dwelling. The next school house of freakish architecture, had two rooms and served well the school district. The advent of the auto and fear of accidents and also the desire for more playground, a large school building was erected at the north side of the village and dedicated November 13, 1914.
     The Murray school was dismissed on Friday for the Christmas holiday week and the following day, Saturday. December 24, 1932, the school building was destroyed by fire of unknown origin. The remainder of the year school continued, using the Murray Library for the high school students and the United Presbyterian Church for the classes in the grades. The present brick school building was constructed in 1933.
     Miss Beulah Sans was employed as teacher in the primary rooms from 1914 to 1935, over a period of twenty-one years, when failing health compelled her to resign. She was endeared to all children who came under her guidance in the school room.

     The United Presbyterian Church established by a missionary at Rock Bluff in 1860, was moved to a half-acre tract east of the school house which lot was deeded to the trustees April 17, 1878, by James A. Walker, and the "cross roads" from this date became "Fairview" by name.
     The Rock Creek Christian Church was organized in 1882, and the church building was on the site where the school house for District No. 6 is now located. The school house at this date was across the road east of the church. At a meeting of the members of the church, January 30, 1892, it was resolved to move the "Rock Creek"

Church to Murray, Cass County, Nebraska, and to be known as the Murray Christian Church. A lot was given by Mr. Walker to the church on which the new church building was erected and the first services conducted October 23, 1892.

     The main part of the town of Murray which is north of Main Street is located upon the south half of the southwest quarter of section 14, which on March 3, 1855 was a land grant to Abrigal King, the widow of William King, a teamster in the war of 1812, and a warrant from President Buchannan assigned this tract, December 6. 1860, to James Allison, a well known pioneer in Cass county. From James Allison it passed to Band Cole, W. L. Hobbs, George A. and Emmet Seybolt, who in turn deeded the south half to Emily Latta, wife of Samuel G. Latta, Decembed (sic) 6. 1883.
     A fence of osage hedge grew along the south and west lines of the Latta farm and through an opening cut In this hedge fence at the south side near the west line, lumber was hauled from Plattsmouth into the field and a small dwelling erected into which the Latta family moved the spring of 1884.
     Two of the most servicable (sic) centers to the early settlers were the blacksmith shop and the grist mill. William Loughridge on October 23, 1883, purchased from Charles M. Holmes a twelve acre tract of land, deeded as Lot 10, in the north east corner of the northwest quarter of section 23, and moved his blacksmith equipment from Factoryville to a shop he had built on this lot near the public road, due north of the present Murray town well. It was in this blacksmith shop that the Murray Post Office, named in honor of Rev. George R. Murray, was established, September 22, 1884, with William Loughridge, the first postmaster.
     In the summer of 1884, Samuel Latta and his uncle, Samuel G. Latta. erected a store building at the southwest corner of the Latta farm and here conducted an enterprising merchantile (sic) business. All goods were conveyed from Plattsmouth to their store by wagons over winding roads. This business was disposed of to William E. Latta in 1888, who in turn sold it to John Edmunds in 1889. The Murray postoffice, with Mr. Edmunds as postmaster, was located in this store.
     Charles Root became associated with Edmunds in the firm of Edmunds & Root.
     Joseph Burton and Helen Abel were married February 27, 1873, and Mr. Walker, contemplating this marriage, had a good two-room cottage built for them to replace the old cabin near the sparkling spring in the wooded cove. This cottage was a home in succession for the families of Isaac Nelson, James Conklin, Jacob Totten, William Wynn and Dr. B. F. Brendel.
     The custom of the early physicians in Nebraska was to locate on a farm and from the farm home care for the sick. Dr. B. F, Brendel located on a farm one mile south of Murray, September 3, 1885. December 14. 1887, he purchased a smal (sic) plot of ground south of the highway in Murray, now lots 13 and 14. The same year he purchased the two room cottage in the wooded cove from James A. Walker and moved it to these lots where it was used as a dwelling and office. Dr. J. Tabor about the same date, located in Murray farther down Main street, but within a year returned to his home in

Pocahontas, Va., where he intended to write a book on "The Wilds of Nebraska."
     Dr. J. F. Champney came from Ohio in 1893, and located in Murray where he remained until 1895, when he moved to the old homestead of Senator Van Wyck's in Otoe county where he practiced medicine and devoted much time to the development of a hog cholera vaccine but within two years returned to his home in Ohio. Dr. G. H. Gilmore from Mount Pleasant precinct, a recent graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, took over Dr. Champney's practice in Murray in the fall of 1895. Dr. J. F. Brendel, son of Dr. B. F. Brendel was engaged in the practice of medicine in Murray from 1903 until his untimely death in the vigor of manhood, October 31, 1912. Since 1932, Dr. F. W. Tyson, a native of Cass county, has been practicing medicine in Murray and surrounding community.
     Many young men from Murray and vicinity have chosen to follow the medical profession as a life's work. Starting with the first to enter this profession we have Dr. Joseph Morrow, Dr. Oscar Latta, Dr. Bert Latta, Dr. Milton Morrow, Dr. Bert Morrow, Dr. A. E. Walker, Dr. Charles Morrow, Dr. Wm. K. Loughridge. Dr. P. M. Gilmore, Dr. J. F. Brendel. Dr. Wm. Brendel, Dr. John B. Gilmore and Richard Brendel, a junior in the University Medical College, Omaha.

     The Missouri Pacific Railroad Company made a survey from Union to Omaha in 1890, the construction of the railroad soon followed and was completed in September, 1891. A depot was built south of Main Street. Men, women and children from the town and surrounding country collected at the station at train time to see the trains come and go. James A. Walker and Samuel G. Latta, seeing a possible future for Murray, employed D. M. Lewis, a civil engineer, who surveyed and platted the town, which plat was attested to July 18, 1890. by H. W. Swearingen, notary public, and a resident of Murray. The blocks and lots were numbered and the streets named Main Street and North Street were opened to the public. South Street was never used. East from the public road the streets were named Park Avenue, Latta, West Railway, East Railway, Morrow, Loughridge and Holmes Street, in honor of Samuel G. Latta, William Morrow, William Loughridge and William Holmes.
     With a new railroad and surrounded by a rich agricultural country, the prospects for Murray were brilliant.
     She soon took on a boom and many speculators came to the village.
     The new railroad drew the business center of Murray from the cross roads to a point nearer the depot. Baxter & Dawson erected a store building across the street north from the Christian church in 1591. They conducted this business for a short time when they disposed of it to M. W. Robb of Otoe county, who in turn sold it to W. B. Jenkins & Son of Eaight (sic) Mile Grove. Far many years they conducted a very prosperous business in the store building but later erected a two-story brick building east of the Murray State Bank. Holmes & Smith entered the Latta Store building at the corned (sic) of Main street and the public road in 1899 where they ran a store over a period of twelve years.
      E. A. Burton on August 11, 1892, opened a hardware and implement   

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